#I am emotionally exhausted but wanting to be here a little so hellooo

[twilighttheater]

Dog time?

[dreamsndmadness]

hellooo!!!(sorry in advance for all of the rambling)

first of all, im absolutely gushing from all of the soft moments in ch9: feyd nearly crying from being cared for, paul helping feyd with his nightmares, and feyd being protective/caring in both the breakfast scene and throughout the spice field inspections :333. It was all VERY adorable and paul finally being unhesitating about his sexual relationship with feyd and them communicating (both implicitly with paul reading feyds body language and explicitly with paul making feyd ask for what he wants), it's all very rewarding in general :)

Also, ive just been thinking nonstop about all the stuff going on with paul. so, my first theory about pauls exhaustion was because he was staying up because of feyds nightmares waking up but then i re-read it and saw paul was tired even before they shared a bed, and then i remembered that lack of sleep is a common symptom of pregnancy so thats my leading theory rn, that OR paul is staying up late reading lol. im also so interested in what paul and lady jessica are plotting, they mentioned controlling feyd and learning more about him in the beginning and then theres the date palm scene. I remember in the movies that date palms are definitely on arrakis so my first thought was that feyd was being a paranoid little freak about it but then i thought lady jessica might be trying to assess pauls health or something?? its safe to say im super hyped for the paul POV

sorry about the length and INCREDIBLY half formed theories

( •̀ - •́ ) ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

The wonderful bowl100!!

I love your questions ☺️. Omg yay!!! I’m so glad you liked the chapter. I always have a crisis of confidence when I post new chapters 🙃. Yesss. The softness. Feyd cutting the fruit and making sure Paul eats was one of my favorite moments from the chapter. It’s so hard to write moments of tenderness from him without it seeming out of character. And then he can never be honest with himself about why he’s doing things or why certain things are making him feel certain ways. Man. This guy. Feyd used his words FINALLY!!! And yes!! I’m so happy for Paul. Starting to enjoy himself. It’s so important.

Okee so here’s what I can say. You aren’t wrong about any of your guesses per say. It’s been such a joy to write from Paul’s pov because he’s a much more emotionally evolved person so I can write him being like “ah yes. This is making me feel this way!”. So one of the biggest reasons for Paul’s exhaustion is that he has been having dreams. Some of them good, some of them pretty disturbing. And yes, we will be seeing them in the next chapter. He is also (not really a spoiler cause it’s in the tags) pregnant! Another big reason! That’s going to be a plot point of the next chapter as well.

Lol the date palm scene!! You’re right on both counts. Feyd is being a paranoid little freak. He’s like “they are speaking in code!!” No you weirdo, they are talking about date palms. However, I am going to give him a little credit because he did pick up on the weird energy of the scene which is basically due to Jessica trying to draw Paul out of his funk. She’s worried about him and thinks he’s not doing well, and she’s trying to cheer him up and also trying to subtly (probably too subtly) signal to Feyd to do the same. Which he kinda gets! Cause he then invites Paul to come with him on inspection and Jessica is like “thank fucking god you are so fucking dense”. To Feyd. Not Paul. Paul can do no wrong in Jessica’s eyes lol.

Anyway! All of your theories were pretty spot on and perceptive!!! Sorry it took so long for me to respond 😔. I’ve been sick this week and it’s been a struggle. I have most of Paul’s chapter finished (it’s sitting at 5,500 words right now 😀). And I hope to edit and post tomorrow!!

Thank you as always for your lovely questions. I look at your wonderful art every day 🥹.

All the best 🫶.

[writeawayjake]

Dawnbringer! CHAPTER 13 Heroes

         “Sooooo, when were you gonna tell me your brother was the Dawnbringer?” Whick asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow as Skye tried to pay for the food she’d placed on his counter. She figured Jared would have worked up quite an appetite, fights, escapes, exorcisms… they can be hungry work. When they were children he’d practically eaten them out of house and home, she’d often wonder where the hell he put it all, and how he managed to stay so scrawny. Their mother had always just shrugged it off as, a boy thing. She’d used to wonder if he’d been switched out by a changeling.

          “Who said he was?”  She replied defensively. She figured Jared would want his business kept private.

           “Oh please darling,” He said leaning his chin in his hand. “I could practically see the sword glowing from down the road. Besides I'm a merchant people tell me their stories and once you filter through all the imbeciles saying the man is nine feet tall or can shoot lightning from his eyes you start to get a fairly coherent picture. A young man with a beautiful sword, black hair, a scar on his right brow, and a legion tattoo. Hard to miss. Although I have to say, rumors don't do him justice. Not to be crass but I would devour that boy.” he said with a blush.

         Well shit, she thought. “Am I going to have to worry about you not being able to keep your mouth shut?” She asked with a hint of menace in her voice.

          “Of course not!” He chuckled. “I wouldn't be very good at my job if I couldn't keep people's confidence. No one will hear it from me you have my word.” He said with a contrite smile. He seemed friendly enough, round faced and rosy cheeked. A balding head of slicked back black hair hidden under an old wool cap. His dimly lit shop with it’s small, paper windows, shelves packed to bursting with trade goods and trinkets. A smell of dust and old wood filled the air with a sense of calm and safety.

           “It's his business and he wouldn't want it thrown around carelessly.” She replied defensively. Pausing she realized her response may have been curt and so followed with, “I didn't mean to be dishonest with you.”

            “Oh no need to apologize my dear! It's a privilege to serve the Dawnbringer’s sister.” The merchant paused before asking, “Forgive me but I'm just dreadfully curious, what's he like?”

          She let out a small sigh, pursing her lips before replying, “He's...relentless, I've never seen him give up once he's set his mind to something - you'd have to kill him to stop him.”

          “Fascinating,” Whick replied leaning in, stars in his eyes. “Do go on.”

         “If he loves you he'll move heaven and earth to keep you safe. He'd stand between you and an army, he’d kill the gods, tear the mountains apart.” A tear welled up in her eye and she quickly wiped it away, looking to the floor embarrassed.

         “He sounds like quite a man.” The pudgy little merchant said, placing his hand on hers with a kind smile.

         “He is... “ She said trying to hold the tears at bay. “I'm just afraid he's lost his way.” The room filled with a sad and stoic silence before it was interrupted by a creaking followed by,

         “Nope… Found my way here just fine,” a raspy croaked. Her head snapped to the front door of Whick’s shop to see Jared in the doorway, barely standing, leaning on the frame.

         “Jared!?” She shrieked. “What the hell are you doing here? You shouldn't even be able to walk?”

         “That's what my legs told me but I wouldn't listen.” He chuckled.

         “How the everloving hell did you walk here? It's four miles!?”

         “Well… Fell down a lot. Uhm.” He said, struggling to maintain his balance, “I... After last night I didn't want you traveling alone. I got scared.”

         “Yeah, some help you'd be if we got attacked.” Scowling she stood there infuriated , hands on her hips, knowing all too well how much she looked like their mother right now. How could he be so Stupid? How could his logic be so backwards? How the hell is he standing?

       “Well I guess when you put it that way it is kinda stupid. Buuuut. It wouldn't be me if it weren't stupid.” He said with a laugh that was accompanied by a shudder. of pain.

         Underneath, the deflecting humor and bravado she could feel something. A feeling of crushing emptiness. A freezing and bitter cold cold that crept through her limbs. She knew this feeling, she’d worked for years to never feel it again. He wants to die… The realization left a pit in her stomach and gave her a cold feeling under her skin.

         “What’s wrong, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He asked with a wincing smile. Letting out a tired sigh, she gestured toward the bench near the door.

         “Just… sit down before you fall down,” she sighed. Feeling emotionally drained in an instant she found herself at a loss. Her proximity to the damn crystal wasn’t helping either, the demon - it’s vile energies and toxic aura was frankly a burden on her even while contained. How did he survive so long with this thing? She wondered. Who could bear that kind of burden for that long? I have to be strong for him.

         The moment Jared sat down his eyes began to close and his head slump in exhaustion. Finally getting a moment of peace she braced herself on the counter, took a deep cleansing breath and tried to gather her thoughts - get the emotions under control. Feeling other people’s feelings could be a serious pain in the ass. As could her brother. Everything he was going through, she felt it as well. All the self loathing, the anger, the futility, all of it swirling around her.

         Satisfied that he’d fallen asleep she turned back to Whick to continue the transaction.

         “I’m sorry… Family drama.” She sighed.

         “Darling. My family invented drama.” Whick said with his typical friendly smile. “Why once my uncle Cyrus brought a jackass, a bushel of apples, and a wench half his age to a family dinn- Uhm sir. Sir Jared. Mister uh Dawnbringer sir? Hellooo?” Hearing shifting behind her she snapped her head to see Jared’s seat empty and the shop door swinging closed. “Where do you think he’s headed?” Whick asked. Hands held nervously near his chin

          “I have an idea,” she replied with disappointment in her voice. She’d felt it when he’d showed up. Not the emotions. Something else. “I really hope I’m wrong…”