so, a trans person came out to me. They aren't fully out, just to their closest friends. They told me their chosen name, but they also are changing the name when presenting as their birth gender. So they have a deadname, a new name with the same gender as their deadname, and then their trans name. As he was explaining this to me, I saw the stars align and made a once in a lifetime joke. I began quoting the passage from Dune where Paul is given his fremen names.

Paul is given a new name to use in public, with outsiders etc, and another "secret' name. This is very analogous to the rather unique situation this trans person was presenting to me. The real "joke" is that this is a long running bit where I reference Dune as much as possible to this person specifically because they have read Dune and didn't like it. Now, in one of the most heartfelt and sincere moments in our friendship I have found an incredibly fitting way to shoehorn this stupid bit in.

I know they thought it was funny because they cracked a smile but tried to cover it up with a groan and a "oh my god shut the fuck up"

Anyways the moral of the story is I am insufferable and you should not come out to me.