Bene Gesserits for Dummies

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

The day after the Hannukah celebration, Katara had time to think about the last twenty four hours. The idea of a challenge, the training Sheeana was taking about, was still fresh in her mind. There was no avoiding it: she WANTED to be a Bene Gesserit, wanted to be trained well enough that she could move as the Mother did. She didn't know how enthusiastic she had seemed then, but she had even replaced one of her usual Yoga practices with trying to move a limb independent of all other: to no avail, sadly, but she was getting closer, she knew that well enough, but it wasn't enough for her to do the exercises, she wanted to know more about them too. So naturally, the Media library was the best place to go.

She made her way to the place and poured through the material, avoiding several interesting books about martial arts and looked up specific sisterhood paths. There were several interesting goddess ones she wanted to research later, and one called "Dianic Wicca" that would probably have bothered Sokka, but she was finally at the Bene Gesserit, and engrossed herself in her readings.

Thus spoke St. Alia-of-the-Knife: "The Reverend Mother must combine the seductive wiles of a courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a virgin goddess, holding these attributes in tension so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have gone, she will find that the place-between, once occupied by tension, has become a wellspring of cunning and resourcefulness."

"Interesting," Katara said to herself aloud, reading on.

Comments

[deep_sky_diving]

She's not the only one looking up information about the Bene Gesserit, though. Tess has been sorting through the materials in the Media Library for a bit, trying to cross-index things. It's such a hassle, with the literature of endless worlds stuffed into the databanks, trying to find anything actually useful. But there was one area in particular that seemed promising—

With the heels of the suit extended, the click-click as she walks up behind Katara to peer over her shoulder is obvious. It's a strange thing to be wearing—form-fitting (but not skin-tight), wrapped in some blue-green plasticine slightly-iridescent material, fitted with well-integrated panels and protrusions here and there and a strange, snugly-fitted 'backpack' unit. Only her face is exposed, and even that is covered with an odd, skin-clinging transparent membrane, almost missable at first glance.

"It is interestin'," she comments, her US-Southern accent likely a rather strange one to Katara.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara looked up at the voice, surprised. She had been so into what she'd been reading that she hadn't expected someone to pop in, let alone read over her shoulder. The voice was friendly enough though, and reminded her a bit of the Swamp Benders when Aang and the gang had landed there bu circumstance.

The outfit she was wearing was definitely something she had not been used to, and Katara stared at it a moment, then looked up at her.

"Um, hi," Katara said, extending her hand, although she was a little unsure if this was how people greeted each other. "My name's Katara. Are you just interested in what I'm reading, or are you looking this stuff up too?"

She wanted to add "What's up with the suit," but first thing was first.

[deep_sky_diving]

"I'm Tess," she says, and takes Katara's hand, giving it a firm shake. There's an odd striated texture to the glove—a set of sensory elements to make up for the lack of direct touch. (The feel of it is a little warm and pliable—almost like skin, in fact, though a little too artificial.) "I was talkin' to Sheeana, if you've heard've'er."

Katara, Tess thinks, reminds her of some of the more interesting worlds she's been to. There's definitely a touch of the exotic to her.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you Tess!" Katara said, smiling. "Actually yes, Sheeana is a friend of mine. I'm currently studying this because she's a part of an order that I want to be a part of. Before I do that, I want to learn what I can about the order. After I do that, I plan to talk to Sheeana again, and tell her that I want to learn from her if she'll have me."

Katara observed the hand, then looked up at Tess. "If you don't mind me asking, and I hate to impose, but what is with the suit, and your hands?"

[deep_sky_diving]

"It's a spacesuit," Tess says with a broad smile in return. She's a cheerful sort of girl, practically bubbly, and not at all afraid to show it. "And a life-support system. Ain't really need it 'round here, I guess, but I'm used t'bein' a lot've places ain't so nice'n set up for humans." She holds her hand up. "It's built t'transfer the feelin' through safe. Keeps me from fumblin' everythin'."

She looks Katara up and down–more curious than appraising. "She told me t'think about it and get back t'her once I've done some readin' on what they do."

[its-keeper.livejournal.com]

The post-Boyfriend-arrival glow has not left Will yet. She practically bounds into the Media Lab, as she has been entering most places, but her energy is fueled even more so this time by purpose. She's been looking for Katara.

"Hi," she said, just loud enough to get Katara's attention without startling her. "Am I interrupting anything?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara glanced up and was happy to see that it was Will, who she hadn't seen in awhile, but HAD seen Will. But the girl's enthusiasm could do nothing but put her in a good mood, and she knew full well why it was the girl was in the good mood on the first place.

"Just some studying," Katara said. "Serious studying, but it can wait a bit, So it looks like you're pretty happy! I wonder what's got you in such a good mood?"

Katara has no idea, riiiight.

[its-keeper.livejournal.com]

"Guess." Will sits down opposite her, then giggles. "Like you can't!"

Matt is here! Matt is safe!

"How are you? I wanted to see how things were going with looking for Aang. If there's something I can do to help, I wanna do it! Oh, and Matt wants to help too!"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Of course I can!" She said, matching her giggle. It was definitely a moment that Katara hardly got to share: her girly side. "I met him! He can...wow, he can play, and that song, and you guys knew the moment you laid eyes on each other! It's so sweet! Such a great guy!"

"I..." Well. She had to keep that hope up. "I know he's close somehow. There's just...some complications."

[its-keeper.livejournal.com]

"You did?" She grins, blushing as she does. "So, did he tell you all about how I was wrong about him being my Normal Boyfriend yet? We were both wrong about that. That's why I think we can both help you find Aang." Her blush disappeared as she brought herself back to the object of both their concern. "What are the complications?"

You where asking for this one.

[depthundersands.livejournal.com]

(http://s861.photobucket.com/albums/ab173/GreybillGirls/alia%20icons%20Rp/?action=view&current=banthafodder3.jpg)

Alia had been simply walking, still feeling quite good about her recent encounter with Jean-Paul. Her mind was clear for once, crisp as a cold, clear winter's day. (She only knew this because of someone else's memories, not her own.)

She found her way into the media library, searching for information from other worlds. Anything would do. Anything to widen her tiny bubble of knowledge about the people here. Before she had come here, Alia had always been sure that she had all the information one person could possibly need, but now she was not so sure.

As Alia passed others, she looked over their shoulder to see what they where reading,... and one girl's text caught her eye instantly.

"Ah, you choose wise words." Alia smiled down, for once, happily.

Re: You where asking for this one.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara stopped and looked to see who was talking. It was a girl she hadn't seen before, but she was more than happy to meet someone new. Besides, she had liked the quote too.

"Thank you," She said, smiling. "I'm just reading up on this sister order, it's very interesting!"

She put the book down a moment. "Hi, my name is Katara! Who might you be?"

Re: You where asking for this one.

[depthundersands.livejournal.com]

(http://s861.photobucket.com/albums/ab173/GreybillGirls/alia%20icons%20Rp/?action=view&current=ohboy.jpg)

Wow this girl was simple. She seemed to hide nothing in the way she spoke, or smiled. Every muscle movement told Alia a story. It was delightful to have that upper hand on someone.

"Subakh Uk Kuhar." Her native tongue falling sweetly from her chapped lips. "I am..." She paused and then, with a carefully planned, girlish laugh, she said: "Alia Atredies, also known as, St. Alia of the Knife."

Re: You where asking for this one.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara blinked. "Well, that was new," she said, smiling. "Glad to meet you, Alia! Sorry if I didn't greet you too quickly, but I think I'm going to have a lot of reading to do. "

She looked up from the book. "So what brings you here?"

Re: You where asking for this one.

[depthundersands.livejournal.com]

"I was looking to learn something about other worlds. I find myself at a lock of knowlage, an illness with a remedy, thankfully." Alia interlaced her fingers together before her.

"Well, you seem to be reading a passage I myself wrote, wouldn't it be easier to simply ask? Why are you so interested in the Bene Gesserit anyways?"

[theregularguy.livejournal.com]

Of course, Sokka only chooses the best times to find his sister reading strange things. He slips into the room and peeks over her shoulder curiously.

"Whatcha reading, Katara?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara looked up and smiled. "Oh, hey Sokka! I'm just reading up on some training I may want to do later. It's a little hard to explain, but I think I'm going to start doing exercises that are going to be a lot more challenging."

Katara showed him ther book. "See? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bene_gesserit)"

[theregularguy.livejournal.com]

Sokka skimmed the page, raising an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, uh-huh...interesting. So, is this like, a form of martial arts or something? Seems neat."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara nodded and shook her head. "Well yes, and no. I don't think its just martial arts, and its definitely different from anything I've ever learned. To do this, there are going to be times when I'm pushed to the limit. It's good that I'm very limber, but to do what Sheeana does, will take...skill."

She looked at her feet, thinking of the exercise Sheeana had wanted her to learn before.

[theregularguy.livejournal.com]

"What kind of skill are we talking? Suki level? Ty Lee?" Sokka scratched his head, never having seen the Bene Gesserit in action.

"Besides, you have bending. You don't really need to learn to fight like them."

[governmentninja]

"Doing a little studying?"

You might not want to ask how long Leon had been standing there, kid.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara was honestly a bit startled this time, but when she heard the familiar voice, she was put at ease. It was only Leon, after all.

"A lot, from the looks of it," Katara said. "Studying, and some training. I've never had so much work I assigned myself, not even in my own world."

[governmentninja]

"Oh?" That got him somewhat curious. "What are you working on?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Well," Katara said, "For a long time now, I've been running my own simulations, training to do what I could. The Sensoriums arre good at that. But the truth is, I'm a waterbending master and if I'm going to train, I need a teacher to teach me about things I haven't done yet, things I haven't achieved yet. But now I think its always been there, the answer. And I'm going to try and make sure I get all of the questios first."

She thumbed through the books. "Do you know Sheeana at all?"

[governmentninja]

"Yeah, though not very well. Our paths don't cross very often." So it was more lack of opportunity than anything else.

"What about her?"