Dune Book - Blog Posts

Paul Atreides is canonically nonbinary.

Seriously.

The first time I read Dune I thought-

“Frank Herbert is doing a great job explaining gender variance in science fiction in a time when they did not have the modern vocabulary for gender expression.”

Paul is his father’s son and his mother’s daughter. He’s quite literally bred to have access to knowledge and power only accessible to men or women.

RIP Paul you would have loved ‘I am not a woman, I’m a god’ by Halsey.

“Me has dado tranquilidad y olvido en tantas ocasiones.”

DUNE

I finished reading the first Dune book recently, and I wanted to draw everyone's favorite Abomination and Eugenics Nepo Baby. I haven't seen any of the films yet, so these interpretations were based on how I imagined the characters while reading.

Text panels below:

Reading Dune after watching the movies is insane, because what do you mean Paul is a teenage dad??? What???? Like this 15y old has (kinda) adopted children and his own kid at like 17??? And they just ignore that lmao

I will say this for Dune, it’s gotten some pretty sweet cover designs over the years

｡⋆𖦹.✧˚──

the wind in the desert is not quiet. it howls through bone and ruin. it sings of forgotten blood and shattered names. paul has stopped pretending to sleep. the wind keeps him company. so do the ghosts.

he walks the edge of the ridge, cloak dragging behind him like the shadow of a future he no longer wants. fremen eyes watch from the rocks, but they do not follow. they know he walks into something only he can name. he finds feyd there, as he knew he would — standing where the sand meets stone, where the cold creeps up through the soles of their boots like warning. the last harkonnen. the beautiful knife. the mirror with a smirk.

"you’re late," feyd says, though neither of them agreed to meet. paul looks at him, and it feels like looking into the center of a storm.

"or maybe you were early."

feyd snorts, fingers flexing at his sides, like he’s itching for a blade but knows better than to draw.

"maybe we were always here."

──

their first fight ends in silence. not because it isn’t violent. it is. it’s everything. a storm of movement and breathless calculation. sand kicked up in flurries. blades kissing too close to skin. but it ends not with blood, not yet. it ends when feyd’s knife is pressed to paul’s neck, and paul’s hand is buried in feyd's hair, tugging his head back with just enough control to make it dangerous. they’re breathing hard. they’re too close.

"this isn’t how you kill a messiah," paul whispers.

"this isn’t how you fight one," feyd answers, and neither of them move. the blade doesn’t cut. the hand doesn’t release.

──

at night, they fall into the sand like it’s the only place they belong. the fremen sleep in a circle behind them, pretending not to notice. or maybe pretending not to care.

"you think this ends with one of us dead," feyd says, staring up at the stars that don’t blink. "but i think it already ended, long before we met."

paul turns his head. "how poetic of you."

"fuck you."

pause.

"you ever wish you'd never been born into this?"

paul doesn’t answer for a long time.

"every day."

"yeah. me too."

they lie in silence. it stretches between them like a wound.

──

there is blood, eventually. of course there is. you don’t put two blades this close without drawing something red. but it’s not a deathblow. not yet.

feyd bites his lip until it splits, staring down at paul after another fight that ended in stalemate and bruises. "you want me to kill you, don’t you?"

paul says nothing.

feyd drops the knife. it thuds against the sand like a heartbeat. he steps closer. waits for resistance. it doesn’t come.

"you want to see if i’ll be the one to do it. take the crown off your head. end the prophecy. end you."

paul looks up, eyes glowing like he swallowed the sun.

"i want to see if you can stand to look at me and still be human."

feyd flinches.

──

when they kiss, it’s not soft. it’s not gentle. it’s not sweet. it’s a warning. they bite. they bleed. they hold each other like dying men who’ve forgotten how to pray. paul tastes like dust and fear and something ancient. feyd tastes like fury, like burning, like something broken pretending it never was.

they do not speak after. they lie in the silence.

paul’s head rests on feyd’s shoulder. feyd’s fingers twitch against paul’s ribs, like he’s not sure if he wants to hold him or crack him open.

──

"i dreamed of a future where we killed each other," paul says one morning, voice quiet, like confession.

feyd lights a smoke, eyes hooded. "sounds like a happy ending."

"i died with your name in my mouth."

feyd freezes.

he exhales, slow. "was i the one who killed you?"

paul doesn’t answer.

and in that silence, feyd closes the space between them again. not like a lover. like an ending. like a war that forgets it was ever made of men.

a/n: eww i hate this. something about tumblr just makes my writing like twenty times worse. it doesn't help that i'm having the worst hangover of my life while i wrote this..

I will always return to You

Paul Atreides x gn!reader Request

Word count:0.7k

Warnings:Paul's daddy issues?? Apart From that it's fluffy

Summary:Paul has to leave for a dangerous mission with his father but he wants to see you one last time...

Requested by Aliza80c on Wattpad

Masterlist

To say that I was nervous, was an understatement. I was pacing around in my room , while I waited for Paul to return from his training session. He would leave with his father tomorrow. He didn't tell me where they would be going or what they were planning to do, the only thing that I knew was, that the mission would be dangerous. 

I was about to leave in order to go see Paul, but in that exact moment, my door swung open and said prince stumbled into my room.

"Paul?!", I asked perplexed. He was slightly sweaty and dark circles were visible under his eyes.

I walked over to him and grabbed his shoulder to steady his stance:"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine", He mumbled, as I sat him down on my bed,"Just wanted to see you one more time."

I smiled at his words. Despite his exhaustion, he still came to see me.

"You need sleep", I explained and tried to push him down onto the bed, but Paul protested.

"I don't need sleep, I want to spend time with you."

I feared that a tear would escape me, as I registered his sweet words.

"At least, lay down with me", I suggested and let myself fall onto the bed next to him.

Paul looked at me for a second. Full on knowing that I tricked him, he let himself sink down next to me with a sigh. I chuckled at my small victory and wrapped my arms around his middle, while Paul burried his head in the crook of my neck.

"How was training?"; I asked after we sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. 

"Horrible, as always", Paul whispered and snuggled closer to me, his calloused hands wrapping around my waist. 

"I wish I could spend more time with you", Paul mumbled and closed his eyes. I carefully raised my hand and pushed a few stray hairs out of his face before leaning closer and kissing his cheek:"I know, my love. But I know that you have duties, I can wait."

"But you shouldn't!", he protested," I just wish, I could dump all those duties and live a peaceful life with you. I don't want to go on that stupid mission with my father"

"Paul", I said, trying to calm him down,"I know that you struggle with your duties. Your father expects a lot from you, but trust me when I say that he is doing it to protect you. He wants to prepare you for a life, where he isn't always there to protect you."

Paul was silent for a second, before he slowly sat up with a sigh:"I know that he only wants  what's best for me, but sometimes I feel like he only sees me as his little Soldier and not as a son."

I sat up too and leaned my head agsinst Paul's back, while wrapping my arms around his middle.

"Have you tried talking to him?", i asked, as Paul interwined his fingers with mine. 

"As if that ever worked.", He scoffed.

"How about I try to talk with him?", I wondered.

"You would do that?",Paul asked perplexed and turned around to look at me.

I only shrugged:"It's worth a shot. And if it doesn't work, I still think that we can find a solution to this."

"You're the best", Paul smiled. It was a geuine smile. A smile that I hadn't seen in what felt like ages.

I yelped, as Paul suddenly lunged forward and pushed me down onto the bed. His hands, grabbing my wrists and keeping me caged under him.

"What are you doing?", I chuckled, as he leaned down and softly pecked my nose.

"I love you", He mumbled, adoration in his eyes. I felt how my heartbeat increased, upon hearing "And I love you, Paul Atreides", I responded. Paul only smiled and leaned down to kiss me. His lips worked against mine with passion, while he interwined his hands with mine. 

"Let's make the night worth it, before I have to leave tomorrow", Paul proposed and left a quick kiss on my jawline.

"I already know, that I will miss you", I mumbled.

"And I will miss you", Paul smiled sadly,"But I will always return to you, I promise"

Not Jamis

Paul Atreides x male!reader Request

Word count: 1.2k

Warnings:none

Requested by anon

Summary: You never thought that your greatest enemy could become your closest Confidant...

Masterlist

I carefully watched the two people walk around the small Valley. They were no fremen, but no Harkonnen either.

"They must be Atreides", Jamis whispered and I eyed him curious.

"It can't be", I stated, "The Harkonnen killed them all. Remember?"

"Now shut up you two", Chani orderd and glared at us,"Its time"

I turned my gaze back to the valley, watching how our people started to attack the two strangers.

On of them, a young boy, made his way up towards us.

While Jamis and Chani went to help Stilgar with the women, I stayed at our hideout and slowly backed away, when the boy reached it.

He didn't even notice me since I was hidden in the shadows. He immediately turned around and pulled out his gun, looking out for any Fremen.

I slowly pulled out my Crysknife and waited patiently for Stilgar to negotiate with the women.

As soon as it was clear, the two were no harm, I wanted to drop my weapon and guide the boy back down, but then I heard Jamis' voice.

He was challenging them. He wanted a fight.

'Damn it, Jamis!', I thought. He will only get himself killed.

A few minutes later, the two strangers who turned out to be Atreides, agreed to the challenge.

'That's how it shall be', I thought and got up.

I carefully tapped the boys back with the tip of my knife.

He spun around and wanted to point his weapon at me, but as soon as he noticed I wasn't goin to harm him, he put it away rather fast.

"Come on", I held my hand out for him. He eyed it for a second before taking it.

"Yuki, hurry up!", I heard Stilgar shout.

I groaned and looked back at the boy:"Come on..."

"Paul", He said, "My name is Paul Atreides"

"Come with me, Paul Atreides", I guided him back into a valley over a narrow path, which only the trained eye recognized immediately.

"May Shai Hulud have mercy on you", I whispered when I saw the look of hatred on Jamis face, once we joined the others.

"I despise him", Jamis whispered while I stood with him.

He and Paul had gotten some time to prepare for the battle, which was supposed to be held at sunset.

"Why? He is no Harkonnen", I whispered back just as lowly.

"It doesn't matter. He came to suppress us, just as the Harkonnen did", Jamis rented while pointing his Crysknife at Paul, "All, these people ever want is the spice. They don't care about us or our religion"

"Hm", I had no words for what Jamis just said. He was right. People of power only ever came to Arrakis for the spice.

I carefully inspected Paul and his mother. The two of them were talking a few meters away.

"It's almost time", I said and looked at the sun, which slowly startes to set, "Good luck, my friend"

"I won't need that", He smiled and made his way over to Paul and Stilgar.

Turned out, he could've used a little bit of luck...

I carefully adjusted the mask of my Stillsuit. The sun was burning today, but many fremen were unaware of that, living in the safety of our Sietch.

"You shouldn't be out here all on your own"

It was the voice of Stilgar. I didn't answer him, but turned around instead and gave him a questioning look.

"I've been out here alone many times. It's my job", I mumbled and turned back around.

Miles and Miles of sand lay in front of us. Now and then, you could see the glistening of the spice on the surface if the sand.

"You miss Jamis", Stilgar stated.

I sighed:"I know, I shouldn't. It was a good and fair fight. Jamis was a good man and he died a good death"

"He did indeed", Stilgar agreed and laid a hand on my shoulder.

"But-", I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"But?", Stilgar asked.

"That boy, Muad'dib, he owns Jamis' home now, his water, his wife and even his children"

"You know, it's our tradition. Muad'dib did nothing wrong", Stilagar said.

"I know", I mumbled, "That's exactly my problem. It's our tradition and of course I respect it, but...I just can't bring myself to trust him"

"It will get better", Stilgar petted my Shoulder.

"Come on in now", He said, "We have to prepare the ritual."

"So, it's really going to happen?", I asked and got up.

Stilgar nodded:"Yes. Jessica is gonna be our future Reverend Mother"

I stood beside Stilgar, while the ceremony was held. The whole Sietch was gathered to watch this unique event.

I carefully watched Jessica talk to our current Reverend Mother and she how consumed the water, which was poison for everyone else, but not for a Reverend Mother.

I watched how Paul Muad'dib assisted his mother and how she finally seemed to come to a realization.

And so, a new Reverend Mother was born.

"Yuki, take Paul to his chambers. I will take care of our Reverend Mother. They need to rest now", Stilgar orderd and I nodded.

I walked over to Muad'dib and carefully pulled him away by his arm. He didn't want to leave his mother's side but I was able to pull him away eventually.

"Come on", I said and the two of us walked through the silence of the empty Sietch.

"Thank you", Paul finally said.

"There's nothing to thank for, Muad'dib", I smiled. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

I felt how Paul took my hand. I looked up curiously.

"There is a lot to thank for. You took us in after all that happened. After all we did to Arrakis and the Fremen."

I sighed but finally, I slowly squeezed his hand.

"You may be the Duke of the Atreides, but you're also a Fremen now and if the rumors are true, you are the Lisan al-Gaib. You will save us all"

A blush crept up on Paul's face and a chuckle escaped my lips.

"But for now, all you have to be is Paul Muad'dib and you need to rest so come on."

I pulled him inside, as we reached the little place, that was omce owned by Jamis before Paul had defeated him.

I watched him lay down on his bed and gave him a smile.

"Sleep well", I said and wanted to leave, but Paul took my hand. I looked down at him.

"Stay", he whispered.

I nodded and got under the covers with him.

I felt the soft skin of his hands against my arms. I shiver ran down my spine, when he pulled me into his arms.

"Goodnight, Paul", I mumbled and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Goodnight Yuki", Paul smiled, "Goodnight"

Dune\^o^/