paul atreides was familiar to two terrains. the rain-sodden greenery of his home on caladan, and the sandy desolation of of arrakis during his residence with a clan of fremen-- perhaps this is why excursions to other planets made his head spin. the universe was expansive, star systems and planets hosting life forms were not exactly old news, however he was not used to travel.

his mother had advised him to take a few trusted escorts to meet with the ruler of a planet in a system just out of his range of knowledge; the hermantheium system. seven planets, the largest of which being eros iii was home to various houses and peoples outside the control of the imperium. or as he saw it through a political eye, possible allies. he had been brought to the third largest of the planets, osrai, home to what he had been informed to be house ilias, a smaller lordship under the control of the reigning system power, house blackthorn.

after the first, mildly invigorating meeting with lord ilias, paul had taken solace by accidentally locking himself out of their lodgings, ending up traversing the city the planet had to offer. the weather of osrai was more mild than arrakis was, the sandstone brick buildings housing bazaars, the streets swimming with people shouting, vending, and the thick aroma of spices and incense; pressing into paul's senses like a mace. he stood out here, with his haughty features and well groomed appearance, like a particularly policed inch of wood on a rotting log.

at sundown, he ended up in what he could only assume was a quite exotic pub, mildly parched and in somewhat of a foul mood.

"pardon. may i have a glass of water?" he stated to the bartender, more of a politely delivered demand than a question. "nothing stronger." paul added, unsure if clarification was necessary. last thing he needed was a spiked drink.