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trans_92010-03-24 06:28 am
worm-dancer.livejournal.com) wrote in trans_92010-03-24 06:28 am
Entry tags:
[Intended for Ghanima Atreides but open]
Thin Ridulian microfilm crackled under her fingers. The light from the shifting, slurry haze of celestial bodies through the great window shone through the letters on the page. It was the thinnest paper that could still be hand turned and preserved the sensuality of reading.
Something drew her to Leto 2's words. Parts had been played, the conciliatory figure had appeared, and the vote was soon to be called. Her setting of the whole debate in motion now crippled Sheeana's ability to persuade during the vote itself. I am Other now more than I ever have been before. She observed.
And this was a potent wisdom for this situation. Leto 2 had built a sprawling edifice of an empire, held it together with religious fanaticism, organizational genius and prescience, all to teach humans a lesson about trusting leaders. He gave them the kind of peace and safety they'd expected from a leader, all they could stand of it and more and more...
Her mind relaxed into the words as her body relaxed into the fleshy, bloblike 'chair'.
The social-alarm signals which put societies into the postures of defense/attack are like shouted words to me. As a people, you react against threats to innocence and the peril of the helpless young. Unexplained sounds, visions and smells raise the hackles you have forgotten you possess. When alarmed, you cling to your native language because all the other patterned sounds are strange. You demand acceptable dress because a strange costume is threatening. This is system-feedback at its most primitive level. Your cells remember.
Flip.
When you are together, you can share a common catastrophe. You can be exterminated together. Thus, I demonstrate the terrible danger of a gliding, passionless mediocrity, a movement without ambitions or aims. I show you that entire civilizations can do this thing. I give you eons of life which slips gently toward death without fuss or stirring, without even asking 'Why?' I show you the false happiness and the shadow-catastrophe called Leto, the God Emperor. Now, will you learn the real happiness?
Flip.
In all of my universe I have seen no law of nature, unchanging and inexorable. This universe presents only changing relationships which are sometimes seen as laws by short-lived awareness. These fleshly sensoria which we call self are ephemera withering in the blaze of infinity, fleetingly aware of temporary conditions which confine our activities and change as our activities change. If you must label the absolute, use it's proper name: Temporary.
Flip.
Oh, the landscapes I have seen! And the people! The far wanderings of the Fremen and all the rest of it. Even back through the myths to Terra. Oh, the lessons in astronomy and intrigue, the migrations, the disheveled flights, the leg-aching and lung-aching runs through so many nights on all of those cosmic specs where we have defended our transient possession. I tell you we are a marvel and my memories leave no doubt of this.
Something drew her to Leto 2's words. Parts had been played, the conciliatory figure had appeared, and the vote was soon to be called. Her setting of the whole debate in motion now crippled Sheeana's ability to persuade during the vote itself. I am Other now more than I ever have been before. She observed.
And this was a potent wisdom for this situation. Leto 2 had built a sprawling edifice of an empire, held it together with religious fanaticism, organizational genius and prescience, all to teach humans a lesson about trusting leaders. He gave them the kind of peace and safety they'd expected from a leader, all they could stand of it and more and more...
Her mind relaxed into the words as her body relaxed into the fleshy, bloblike 'chair'.
The social-alarm signals which put societies into the postures of defense/attack are like shouted words to me. As a people, you react against threats to innocence and the peril of the helpless young. Unexplained sounds, visions and smells raise the hackles you have forgotten you possess. When alarmed, you cling to your native language because all the other patterned sounds are strange. You demand acceptable dress because a strange costume is threatening. This is system-feedback at its most primitive level. Your cells remember.
Flip.
When you are together, you can share a common catastrophe. You can be exterminated together. Thus, I demonstrate the terrible danger of a gliding, passionless mediocrity, a movement without ambitions or aims. I show you that entire civilizations can do this thing. I give you eons of life which slips gently toward death without fuss or stirring, without even asking 'Why?' I show you the false happiness and the shadow-catastrophe called Leto, the God Emperor. Now, will you learn the real happiness?
Flip.
In all of my universe I have seen no law of nature, unchanging and inexorable. This universe presents only changing relationships which are sometimes seen as laws by short-lived awareness. These fleshly sensoria which we call self are ephemera withering in the blaze of infinity, fleetingly aware of temporary conditions which confine our activities and change as our activities change. If you must label the absolute, use it's proper name: Temporary.
Flip.
Oh, the landscapes I have seen! And the people! The far wanderings of the Fremen and all the rest of it. Even back through the myths to Terra. Oh, the lessons in astronomy and intrigue, the migrations, the disheveled flights, the leg-aching and lung-aching runs through so many nights on all of those cosmic specs where we have defended our transient possession. I tell you we are a marvel and my memories leave no doubt of this.
no subject
Arha squeezed Sheeana's hand gently.
"I was afraid, but now I am not."
no subject
no subject
no subject
When Arha shuddered he touched her Force-presence gently, like the warm breath of a hand on her shoulder, lending support, and cleared his throat softly to make Sheeana aware as well. He didn't speak, not yet. It didn't feel like a moment for words, only for regard, and waiting.
no subject
Obi-wan was standing there in the doorway and she mulled over the wisdom of conducting this intimate moment between Sisters in such a public place.
Well, he'd seen her at worse.
She sat back on her calves and gave him a questioning/welcoming look.
no subject
In this case, she had simply been too busy to take time out and sit still long enough to get a proper discussion in. Such was the level of activity when it came down to cleaning up the mess left behind after the Nightmare King's defeat. It was the healing that did her in most of the time, anyway, though the need for that was quietly tapering off as of late.
no subject
"I thought you might need company," he greeted them both genially, coming close in a way that somehow asked permission to sit without making any overt motion, "But I see I've come a little late. How have you been recovering?"
no subject
She made room for him a little bit. A Reverend Mother easily picked up on those nonverbal requests.
Sheeana glanced at Arha, who had the worse time of it. She'd explain more if she wanted.