Paul Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
terriblepurpose) wrote2030-12-01 07:56 pm
terriblepurpose) wrote2030-12-01 07:56 pmDeer Country Contact
ic contact
un: younghuman ✦ text ✦ voice ✦ video
terriblepurpose) wrote2030-12-01 07:56 pm
cw: psychological horror, body horror, amputation
He needs to see. He huddles in a folded lotus on the floor of the bare cell in the Sanctuary and he stares until the sea comes to take him, the undertow of dreams pulling him from his body.
The beach. The wave. The beach again. The pattern rarely varies anymore, now that it's been set. Still, without Lazarus' guidance, the details shift and blur. Clarity is lost. He rises to his feet in a vision that has no weight, a gauzy, silver-tinted paleness. The steps that lie in front of him do not have the assertiveness of stone, the sky overhead does not bear true light, and the choir -
The choir is worse to look at than the fish in the way that the sun is worse to look at than a candle. Paul sees into it, and through it, and into it, into the many segmented, clashing layers of its past, its doubled, tripled, hundredfold perspectives and anatomies. He perceives eyes. He perceives teeth. He perceives no distinctions, no boundaries, he forgets, he forgets, he forgets.
There is a coin in his hand. There is a coin in another hand. There are feathers and fine bones and new eyes, a golden bursting profusion of them, and they both turn to observe the intrusion-severance-inwards that invades the choir as a disease.
The choir raises a blade that shines like invisible light, and severs an arm at the elbow. By this time, the few Disciples that visit this deep in the Sanctuary have learned to ignore the screams.]
Merlinus,
Thank you. I appreciate your thoroughness, as ever. This has confirmed several of my suspicions.
I believe I found your coin, but I also misplaced it. If I come across it in the Waking World, would you like it returned to you?
Paul
no subject
I am, as ever, glad to be of service.
Where did you find it?
Merlinus
PS: I would appreciate its return. It's uncomfortable having a piece of myself somewhere I can't retrieve it.
no subject
I perceived it in a dream, though I couldn't see it, and I find myself unable to describe it, or how I knew it was yours.
I apologize for my carelessness with it, in that case.
Paul
no subject
Did you see any eyes?
Did you meet their gaze?
Accepted and forgiven. I lost it to begin with and must assume it mislikes being held.
Merlinus
no subject
Wh
eye?Paul
no subject
Paul,
Something's a little odd about your previous message. I can't put my finger on it.
Does your world have a notion of contagious madness?
Merlinus
no subject
eYes. Is that something we could use, do you think?Paul
no subject
Paul,
My people have before in battle. A consequence of meeting our eyes.
Especially those not ordinarily seen.
Are you feeling well?
Merlinus
no subject
Well e
yenough, but you're beginning to concern me.What should I
lookfor?Paul
no subject
Beware the stranger that knows mother-name.
Beware the eyes that watch from the dark.
Beware the colors beyond sun or flame.
Beware words that twist ear or page,
When noise becomes meaning, and noise, meaning sparks.
A pillar of the world distorts all it touches. Distortions of the mind, hallucinations and delusions, are most common. Distortions of the world, to introduce strange symbols and turn meaning to noise, are next. Distortions of the body are the last.
If you start growing anything new, get a Blood Minister's help. The rest may help to treat like corruption.
Merlinus
no subject
Thank you for the warning, but I'd ask you not to be overly worried. This is part of the risk of the work, isn't it? I apologizeyes for
I'll be more careful.
Paul
no subject
Paul,
If we are contract-precise about it I'm not worrying, for want of real anxiety behind my actions.
I am doing what I did when I wrote that rhyme and making sure we all live to take more risks, with our minds intact to choose them.
Apology accepted. Please also keep someone with you for now. Who you trust, who can verify whether you are seeing what you think you are.
Merlinus
no subject
In that case you may be the only person left in this city who doesn't insist on worrying about me. There doesn't seem to be much distinction between anxiety and risk assessment in more cultures than I realized.
I have someone in mind. Thank you for the warning, and the lesson.
Your humble student,
Paul
no subject
You're giving me too much credit. I'm simply dead. They may be more right than I am.
You are welcome. I remain at your service should you have more questions. Give your companion my regards and blessing.
Stars and saints guard your sight,
Merlinus