A Talk with Variks (for housejudgement)

[desertpowered]

Paul has done his due diligence on researching the Nexus: the unique qualities, the hazards, the various factions that call the place home.

There's one piece of research that eludes him, however - he's never been able to learn about the resident Eliksni faction. There are good reasons for this. The pamphlets made it clear that they're both secretive and bitterly hostile to species that aren't their own, especially humans. Paul is human. He figures they'd never let him get close based on that alone, and the fact that he's a neutral party in their own war wouldn't make much difference.

And he has work to do in his home universe that can't be disrupted by his being shot or beheaded or whatever it is the Eliksni do to people they deem enemies. And they certainly won't answer Paul's questions - and why should they? He can perfectly understand why they wouldn't. He wouldn't in their position, and doesn't. The number of Nexus residents he's given serious information to so far can be counted on one hand.

Thankfully, one of the conversations on his first day tipped him off to an alternative method. So he seeks out the elusive Variks, the one Eliksni he's been told about who isn't a member of House Winter and wouldn't shoot him on sight.

With the information he was given, and with some effort, he was able to track Variks to where he lived.

Comments

[desertpowered]

Paul is a strange one, even by the standards of a strange place like the Nexus. He looks like and is a fifteen year old boy, but is mature and intelligent for his age, even beyond it. He isn't above acting like his age, though, in the right situation - he's discovered it's a good way to convince adults to sympathize with him and give him what he needs or wants.

So this is an Eliksni. He's never actually seen one, only heard whispers of stories from the Long Winter and seen pictures of the House Winter banners in the pamphlets, but the startled reaction isn't what he expected from what in all descriptions seems to be a rather violent warrior race. But Variks isn't a member of House Winter, and isn't affiliated with the more traditionalist clan who makes their home away from the larger Nexus. The alien seems to be covered in armor, with four glowing blue eyes. There's something arthropod in the shape, maybe insect and maybe crab, perhaps a touch of both. With the four limbs and formidable size, an Eliksni would be a dangerous opponent even to an adult human. Paul has been trained to fight since childhood, but he knows he wouldn't stand a chance against one alone.

"Don't worry. I'm a friend." Stranger, more like, but Paul wants to let this particular Eliksni know that he means no harm. He does his best to seem inoffensive and nonthreatening to the alien, even leaving his dagger back at the shelter he built for himself to live in the downtown area. Humans and Eliksni are old enemies, even in a place like this where more people set old grudges aside, but he was reassured that this one doesn't share the prejudices of most. "You're Variks? I was looking for you."

[housejudgement]

Variks leaned further through the cracked door, studying the human silently. He wore his fur lined tabard with the symbol of House Judgement, and of course his helmeted mask to aid in breathing the non-ether filled air. His two upper arms appeared to be cybernetic, with the one on his right side torn right off. The boy didn't appear armed and the Scribe's head tilted thoughtfully as two of his hands curled around the doors edge. He still stood curled forward, and not standing at his full height.

"Who are you?" He asked finally, accented words trilling. "How do you know Variks?" A series of clicks followed before he spoke again. "Do you know...the Guardians?" Other than Ben, Variks wasn't used to visitors that didn't know him from his own universe. He too, didn't use any threatening body language. Just careful caution that was laced with curiousity.

[desertpowered]

"Paul Atreides." Paul bows slightly to show respect. "I'm new here in the Nexus. I was told about you through Katiri. Or, rather, people who met her. They said you could tell me more about the Eliksni people. The only other sources I would have are Pelsor's clan and the Guardians. The first don't accept visitors - probably ones with questions most of all, I'd likely be mistaken for a spy - and the second are probably an unsympathetic source."

Paul pointedly avoids using the term "Fallen", especially in the presence of one. It's not hard to tell from the etymology of the word that it's not a compliment, even if he doesn't know exactly why they're called Fallen. It has implications, especially with the fact that they organize themselves into Houses.

[housejudgement]

Hearing Katiri's name mentioned eased the Scribe some. He uttered a trilling hiss of a noise at the mention of Pelsor. "You are smart, for leaving Winter be, yesss?" He chittered, opening the door wider and gesturing with a lower hand to come inside. "Guardian Katiri and her team are trustworthy. Honorable." He assured, and would shut the door once Paul entered. "Good friends to Variks." He still remained standing in a hunched forward position. Not only because the human was much smaller than him, but it was also his way of appearing smaller and less intimidating.

"Come. Variks has tea."

[desertpowered]

"I know enough about them to stay away. But they're called a House." Paul, too, knows how to put up an act. He's not a normal teenager, but he's pretended to be one before. It's given him more sympathy from strangers. While he doesn't entirely feel safe around strangers, he won't pass up an offer of help from them, "I am the duke of a royal human House where I come from, so I couldn't help but notice the term. It sounds grander than I expected a gang of pirates to be."

And it makes Paul suspect that the Eliksni of House Winter aren't just a gang of pirates. There's history behind them."

"Thank you, Variks. What kinds of tea do you have?"