#you taught me my hands must always remain clean {feyd rautha headcanon}

[impercre]

There are a multitude of drugs and exotic alcohols in the Dune universe. Feyd actively avoids all of them. He hates feeling like his senses are being clouded or impaired and so refuses to partake beyond an extremely rare social drink. That said he has been drugged on a number of occasions. No one gets any points for guessing by who.

[withinycu-arch]

The Parental History and Trauma of Glossu ‘The Beast’ Rabban and Feyd Rautha Harkonnen

Abulard was the youngest son of Gunseng Harkonnen and one of his later concubines, Viktoria. During his lifetime Abulard was viewed as the more handsome of Gunseng’s sons and was the most popular of Gunseng’s children on both Lankiveil and Geidi Prime. Yet he seemed to lack his father and demi-brother, Vladimir’s ambition for their house which had only recently re-emerged on the Imperial stage. Vladimir himself was the son of Gunseng and Muertana of House Sarobella, a political marriage that was frequently hostile. With Muertana herself feeling she’d been forced to marry beneath herself into the upstart Harkonnen family. 

Despite or perhaps because of the internal problems in their father’s household, Abulard and his elder brother were close, as they were not too far apart in age. Abulard himself frequently joined his elder brother on his debaucheries and maintained several dozen concubines throughout his life. One of his favorites was an Ixian woman named Thora who bore him his eldest son, Glossu. 

Abulard was briefly placed as governor on Arrakis in an attempt to mitigate his popularity on Geidi Prime but his time there proved absolutely disastrous showing him to be easily manipulated by those around him and he was recalled to Geidi Prime. Though his son Glossu was left to study under his Uncle Vladimir who was placed on Arrakis instead. Glossu proved an unruly student, frequently proving obstinate and acting out aggressively. 

Abulard was given the equally austere but much more self sufficient, Lankiveil. Though lacking any real responsibilities Abulard was able to gain considerable popularity through his generosity and good nature to the point that when Gunseng died many on Geidi Prime and Laniveil as well as within the Landsraad wanted Abulard to take over the Barony including the young Duke Leto Atreides of Caladan. Though in this later case it’s likely the noble houses sensed Abulard’s weakness and hoped to manipulate it to their own ends both financially and politically. 

Abulard himself had recently married, Emmi a Bene Gesserit concubine who bore him another son Feyd Rautha and continued to show no interest in the Barony. He even went so far as to try and diffuse these rumors by changing his surname to ‘Rabban’ one of the lesser branches of the Harkonnen family tree to prove he was no real threat to his brother.

However despite this his brother Vladmir was quickly proving an unpopular leader. While he had the ruthlessness and ambition desirable in the leader of a Noble House he was unpopular with the citizens on all three planets under Harkonnen control and was seen by the rest of the Landsraad as too ‘Ixian’.

Duke Leto Atreides even suggested a potential alliance between his potential future daughters and one of Abulard’s sons if he took the Barony. (Though it’s unlikely he would have followed through, destabilizing the Harkonnens was likely his only real goal). Abulard’s Bene Gesserit wife Emmi also pushed for Abulard to take control likely so the Bene Gesserit could have a puppet ruler over three immensely profitable planets. 

With so much pressure from so many sides Abulard began to bend and recalled his eldest son Glossu now in his teens (who by now was deeply troubled and warped by feelings of abandonment and the time spent under his uncle’s ‘care’) and began to amass an army. 

And yet the uprising never occurred. Abulard’s attempts to build an army were poorly conceived and the allies he thought he had in the Landsraad all but abandoned him. No doubt sensing the political winds were turning, as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen had both the resources, cunning and money to soundly crush Abulard. 

Abulard, Emmi and several dinner guests died shortly after of poisoning after someone deactivated the family poison snoopers. Notably neither of Abulard’s sons were harmed with popular rumor blaming Glossu for the event though this was never confirmed and seems unlikely. 

What is known is that Glossu was given control of Arrakis shortly afterwards but kept the surname ‘Rabban’ while the toddler, Feyd Rautha was placed under the care of the Baron and his approved tutors with the Baron essentially adopting Feyd. 

The Baron won some supporters for the ‘mercy’ he showed Abulard’s remaining children and concubines. And Vladimir himself blamed the popular Duke Leto Atreides and the Bene Gesserit for Abulard’s behavior. 

Though carefully instructed to never speak of it by his brother, Feyd Rautha was deeply troubled by the events which no doubt factored into his fascination with poisoning in later life. As he grew older Feyd began and continued a correspondence with his brother and placed a higher stock in his brother intelligence than most trusting his advice when it came to their uncle. This coupled with Thufir Hawat actively mentoring Feyd after he was forced to join House Harkonnen gave Feyd perhaps the best outside understanding of the Arrakeen crisis and the Fremen. 

[impercre]

Feyd would not make a good Emperor. He has potential sure, and has proved adept at surviving his Uncle but survival isn't living. Even if we're going off of his canon inner monologue he's already showing some serious albeit justified paranoia. While he'd be able to ride the initial wave of popularity brought on by killing the 'upstart Duke' he'd more than likely slip into the tactics he learned from his uncle if faced with any serious emotional/political set backs. (The only way I see him not doing is if he somehow managed to establish an extremely strong support system. Which uh . . . seems unlikely.) His backstory of having a popular father and later being raised by an abusive Uncle who was also responsible for the death of said father is identical to that of the Roman Emperor, Caligula. Caligula has become a byword for insane ruler but it's important to remember Caligula was EXTREMELY popular during his early reign and only slipped into the mad figure we know today after a series of health, personal and political crises. This is also why in AU situations I'm much more interested in scenarios where he's forced to survive under Paul's rule. To be frank (ha!) I feel like when removed from any position of power or the chance of being in such a position he has a much better chance of both becoming better and learning to be at peace within himself.

[impercre]

As a general rule, Feyd doesn't like to sleep with virgins. It takes a lot for him to feel comfortable 'taking' that from someone and would only take someone's virginity if he had a very serious romantic connection or relationship with him. The weird flipside is he attracted to people he perceives as 'pure' precisely because it's not a quality he believes he possesses.

[impercre]

Various Thoughts on How Feyd's Mind Works

Feyd is not prone to very abstract thought. If he sees a problem he wants to fix it immediately instead of sitting around waiting.

That said one of the reasons I headcanon he's smitten with Irulan is she's something of a historian/reader. And he does see the practicality of that. He's just not a scholar himself.

He does find philosophical and more abstract religious thought annoying because what????? is?????? the????? point??????

He's very self aware. While he can be cunning and deceptive he doesn't have any illusions about why he does what he does including vying for the Barony. It's entirely self motivated.

That said he doesn't actually know what he'd do with power. Like broken down his reasoning is actually surprisingly childish (barony+no baron =safety)

[impercre]

OPTIONAL ELABORATIONS:

SONG: NEED YOU TONIGHT BY INXS *There's a very raw, desperate quality to the song as it dances between being kind of flippant and vulnerable. Which is all very Feyd. FLOWER: Anemone *The flowers that bloomed after Adonis was killed by a rival. GREEN FLAGS: This doesn't even tie into my 'Feyd has a crush on Irulan' headcanon. He's also really into @voicestm's Usagi. More broadstrokes he tends to like people with qualities he lacks or thinks he lacks. RED FLAGS: Being controlling, calling him things like 'darling', 'beautiful', etc. Really anything that reminds him of his Uncle. Also not a fan of any kind of PDA weirdly. I feel like someone who he can't get a reaction out of too might be deal breaker.

tagged by: @tapalslegacy tagging: EVERYBODY

[impercre]

Feyd is actually the easiest mark for the Bene Gesserit as he's actively fascinated by them. Because they remind him of his mother and give him a sense of safety/comfort because of that. It definetly plays a part in his attraction to Irulan.

[impercre]

do you have any Feyd sleep headcanons (like maybe hours per night, any bedtime routines, attire, fave positions, would he want a partner to stay, etc)

It depends on where he’s staying. In the capital of Harko while a part of his Uncle’s court he tries to avoid sleep/ sleeps very lightly and is hyper-vigilant. Even in places where he’d feel safer his countryside estate or he’d still want to be up early. He likes to exercise early in the mornings.

I’m not sure as to dress/ sleeping position though being able to sleep with a partner would be an extreme act of trust and intimacy on his part though even then it’d take time for him to reach the point where he’d be snuggly. (Feeling trapped and vulnerable would stress him out.)

[impercre]

how often do they do self-reflection? / are they more afraid of being alone with themselves or with others? (for feyd?)

THE TINIEST DETAILS: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS | accepting

Fairly regularly, I think he gets labeled 'sulky' or 'sullen' because he tends to retreat into his mind and is thinking. I also think he's one of the more self-aware characters in the book. He knows what he's doing and more importantly why he's doing it without deluding himself about his motives.

As for being alone, Feyd actually craves being alone and rarely is. It's one of the reasons he's always taking off to Lintukoto and rarely invites people beyond a select few to join him there. It's a safe space for him. One of the many reasons Feyd actually wouldn't be good in an actual position of power is he'd be surrounded constantly.

[impercre]

Feyd, Locations and Romance

If you're with him in Giedi Prime's capitol of Harko, there's a degree of tension all the time. He's not going to be very affectionate, and is often biting and sarcastic. If anything erotic, sexy does happen expect him to be rougher and more dominating.

If Feyd likes you he might take you to Lankievel. He's much more relaxed there than he is in the capitol of Harko. He's also much more informal as well and will be more casually affectionate.

If he takes you to Lintukoto his estate in Giedi Prime's countryside then congrats you're married. Or more simply he takes the relationship very seriously and trusts you enough to come to what has always been his 'safe place'. So far I think only @eclipsecrowned's Odessa (platonic) and @voicestm's Usagi have been formally invited there.

[impercre]

👄do they prefer oral or penetrative sex more? (Feyd)

𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒 | accepting

It comes down to the gender/presentation/trust levels he has with the muse in question.

If it's a more femme muse he generally likes giving oral. More masculine types then it becomes trickier he might be open to giving/receiving if there's enough trust or he likes you enough. Even then I'm not sure how much he's genuinely getting out of it.

As for penetrative sex generally he prefers to be the one penetrating the other though I can see him wanting/ asking to be pentrated if you likes you, is in the mood for it. Will definitely take longer to get their with more MASC muses.

[impercre]

The Great Mother Cult

A catch-all term for a series of cults/beliefs that are widespread throughout the Imperium. While the exact nature of this cult varies from planet to planet and region to region the basics follow the familiar patterns of a mother goddess cult that can be traced back to Old Terra and the cults of Isis, Aphrodite and later the Virgin Mary. The cult was heavily promoted by the Bene Gesserit who often used the Cult as a front by having members disavow the Bene Gesserit Order so as to infiltrate worlds that were otherwise hostile to Bene Gesserit the most notable being Ix and Giedi Prime. While Giedi Prime was never as overtly hostile to The Order as Ix they did noticeably fall from favor during the reign of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen who was at times actively hostile to The Order during his reign. IRONICALLY the Bene Gesserit were able to infiltrate Giedi Prime through House Harkonnen's ongoing alliance with Ix through the Great Mother cult. While officially agnostic as were most of the ruling Houses during the Late Corrino period it was the religion Feyd Rautha and his elder brother, Glossu were most familiar with during their youth and the one most frequently referenced by them. Glossu in particular will reference the Great Mother as 'Toci' the name the goddess is given in the Ixian tradition. While Feyd himself is more familiar with the Great Mother cult practiced by the farmers outside his estate at Lintukuto where she is known as Aka or Mother Aka.

[impercre]

So in the new film Feyd Rautha is presented as an almost Kwizats Haderach albeit one the Bene Gesserit can control. While this is a change I do like and respect from an adaption standpoint it's simply not present in the books. I have toyed with the idea of Feyd being an almost Kwizats Haderach myself in the past but I'm going to consciously disregard it from here on out. With regards to my portrayal of Feyd Rautha I've come to find I like leaning into his normal-ness. He can be fairly charming and charismatic, but he's also very aware of his limitations and is trying to work around them by the books end. I've also come to feel that Feyd doesn't need to be 'special' to have 'value'. He's human, one who's been abused and mistreated but trying desperately to climb out of the mud when he's stamped down under the boot of Paul's ascent.

[impercre]

Sexy headcanon of the day- Feyd actually isn't into any hard kinks.

[impercre]

Muse Preview

Feyd Rautha Harkonnen

A youth with sad eyes, with a warrior’s build and the full lips that are characteristic of his house.

To many, Feyd Rautha may appear a callow and heartless youth. But he is also intelligent, charismatic and capable of great loyalty and generosity.

FAMILY: Emni Rabban [Mother], Abulard Rabban [Father], Glossu Rabban Harkonnen [brother], Baron Vladimir Harkonnen [uncle] SIGNIFICANT OTHER: - CHILDREN: -

Feyd is the heir-apparent to House Harkonnen, raised largely by his Uncle who is the worst. Though the family is financially powerful it lacks respect and credibility because of its internal turmoil and reputation for decadence.

I’m going to be very adamant on this point since the adaptions fucked up their dynamic- but Feyd HATES his uncle and only tolerates him so he can be named his heir. He has actively tried to assassinate him at points.

He’s deeply smitten with Irulan. - This is pure headcanon on my part and while I like Feyd/Irulan based on my interpretation of the characters no Irulan RPer is required to ship with my Feyd. It’s also fairly possible Feyd won’t feel the same way about every Irulan out there. 

Feyd Lives AU X

[withinycu-arch]

A Brief History of House Harkonnen, Primarily Told in Fashion and Architecture

As with many feudal socities there’s a marked contrast throughout the Imperium and the wealthier nobility and upper classes. With House Harkonnnen providing perhaps the starkest disparity between the two outside of Ix. 

Like most of the noble houses House Harkonnen rose to prominence during the Great Revolt or war against the machines only to fall from grace centuries later during the Battle of Corrin when House Atreides formally accused the Harkonnens of cowardice. While this event is treated as the origins of the Atreides/Harkonnen blood feud popular Oral tradition and more recent scholarship suggest the feud is much older. 

According to the Oral Tradition and popular ballads on Caladan and Geidi Prime, the founders of both Houses competed for the hand of Jehanne Butler the legendary leader of the Great Revolt. However the more likely explanation put forth by more recent historical accounts and later confirmed by God Emperor Leto Atreides II the Younger, is that the early Harkonnens distrusted the Atreides as they joined the Great Revolt relatively late in the conflict. The accusation of cowardice during the war that saw House Corrino rise to power was a calculated effort on their part to undermine Harkonnen power and influence while gaining a public degree of perceived moral high ground their late entry into the Great Revolt had caused them to be denied. 

If true this gambit worked and the Harkonnens were shunted to the side in terms of Imperial Politics. Though it’s worth noting that House Atreides never achieved prominence until much later despite their ploy against the Harkonnens. 

However despite being relegated to the political background House Harkonnen was not forgotten by the Bene Gesserits and their breeding programs who still hoped to incorporate their genetic stock into their plans. They were also not without resources as Geidi Prime boasted a vibrant ecosystem which allowed the Harkonnens to gain a certain degree of wealth through lumbar exports. Large Pilingitam trees in particular were largely sought after for sculpture and building.

Many of the oldest homes on the planet were built with Pilingitam whose durability has allowed the buildings to remain standing for centuries. One notable example and later a favorite retreat of Feyd Rautha Hakonnen boasts of being carved from the trunk of a single tree. 

As the Harkonnens rebuilt their fortunes and influence their poor reputation remained with some electing to lean into their nefarious reputation and allying with Ix to build factories for using Pilingitam to create inexpensive to make but highly profitable trinkets for sale offworld as well as the manufacture of clothed goods for the lower classes. 

Originally reliant on wool and textiles for clothing traditional dress on Geidi Prime tended toward the rustic with an eye towards layers and warmth. 

As his popularity grew along with his own political assertions, Feyd Rautha Harkonnen would frequently dress in the traditional style not only to appeal to the masses with whom hhe was extremely popular but subtlety position himself as a more moral option to his Uncle the Baron. 

However long before Feyd Rautha was born and when Geidi Prime first began to ally itself with Ix, Ixian fashions began to influence the upper classes. 

Ix had always flaunted Imperial conventions and taboos against machine made products and clothing to an extreme which those dwelling in the cities of Geidi Prime began to adopt. Although never to the same extremes as Ix. 

Instead Geidi Prime tended more industrial, geometric and angular. The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen himself favored this style and it certainly added to his negative reputation given how most of the Imperium viewed the Ixians. A repulsion and moral hand wringing that the Baron himself saw as a kind of power in it’s own seemingly oblivious to the damage this flaunting of convention did to his popular support. 

Though that said House Harkonnen flourished under him and his immediate predecessors with them even adopting an architectural style that was as angular and aggressive as their dress.