forum Letters Across the Universe (Always open. Say you read page one stuff)

Started January 29, 2020 by @Althalosian-is-the-father book

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Dear Wilson,

I do wish I could stick to coffee, but Jordan cut me off a while ago. I'm only allowed one cup per day. With one shot of espresso. I wish I could say I love them, but they're currently depriving me of one of the only things that's keeping me alive. Oh well. Singing glasses is quite a resourceful hobby, I guess, although I'm sure Nath doesn't appreciate the noise.

I've never heard of the language you talked about. Peiataph? My first language is Spanish, although if I hadn't heard of yours, maybe you don't know about mine? You tell me.

As for your question about Shards, it's a little complicated. Or at least it seems to be. We're not really all that different from normal humans. We have everything else the same, it's just that our bodies have something else. I forget what the scientists called it. Pure Energy? Absolute Energy? Something like that. Anyways, I just remember that it runs in families and it's what gives us our "unnatural" abilities. I couldn't tell you why people think we're so separate from humans that they feel the need to call us Shards, as if we're broken from humanity. We're not. Anyways, by the sound of your world's workings, it seems like you have plenty of similar rants you could give.

And as for Nath and Hollis the hairless cat, I hope both get home safely to you, and that you take good care of him. Hollis, I mean. Not Nath. Although I'm sure you take good care of him too. Now I can tell Jordan's going to yell at me for staying up too late (a result of the whole "one cup of coffee" rule), so I'm going to end this letter here. Till next time.

Fair winds and bright stars,
Rome DeCatólico

Rome,

What. Is. Spanish?!

That sounds so weird, is it from a place called Span? Or is more of a diminutive, slang language from an existing language called Span?
I'm very intrigued.

It stands to reason you've never heard of Peiataph, it's pretty rare, even here. It's a regional dialect for Peiata in Provence Honey back in Unish. My family, The Nourets, are actuality in possession of a master codex for Peiataph written by Fern Mother Monks. Not my parents specifically, maybe one of my great great great aunts or something.

It's really fascinating to me how magic in your world is treated like lycanthropy here. Magic here is just so old hat that it's a bit… off to think of it as worth being killed for.
Not to belittle your claims, I understand completely. I'm just getting hung up on the semantics of arguing for the sake of comparison.

You were correct in that I have a dozen rants about this stupid world, but I wouldn't wan to impose on the letter midway through.

Or… I'm paying for postage on this, you can skip my ravings if you're bored of my handwriting.

So first of all, It sucks that I was almost tossed in the pit, it sucks that those exist, it sucks that I can't travel commercially lest I be thrown off the boat or turned in for ransom or whatever they decide to do to me. It sucks that I lose my teeth every month and they still don't think I feel any pain. It sucks that I can't leave this damned house but for court appointments and medical analyses and I swear to furies and fates if I have to sit on another therapist's couch and explain that "Yes, I do have agency and can think real thoughts. No I've never jury anyone. Yes of course I'm angry, I was just accused of being a murderer by a stranger for the seventeenth time in a row!"
And all of them do it in the same way, they look at me and say "Well of course it's him look, he's exactly what I pictured when you said 'werewolf.'"
It's just… frustrating.

I'm sorry for putting all that on you. You can just…

I do have good news though, to continue the saga of Hollis the Cat. Nath brought them home a week ago and they've been adjusting well. Their favorite spot to sleep is on top of the table in the dining room and that annoys the hell out of Nath. He works on that table and Hollis loves to knock papers around just to watch them flutter to the floor. They also like to sleep on the foot of our bed and wake us up at odd hours for the soul reason that they were cold.
They are absolutely adorable though…

That's it, really. Sorry it took me so long to write you, I was in the hospital for a short time, then I had a bit of a stint in the court system. We're appealing though and it's a lot less of a wait than I thought. What's fun though, Nath convinced them that he was a competent enough caretaker to deal with a feral fugitive or whatever they were calling me, so now I'm on house arrest for six months until our appeal.
At least I have Hollis.

Give Jordan my best.

                                                    Fair tidings,
                                                          Wilson Nouret

To Who This Letter May Reach,

Hi. Or is the formal greeting Hello? Greetings? I always forget with Earthen. Anyways, hello. I'm Alisendera, although I'm told that's a mouthful for Earthens to say, so I usually shorten it to just Ali. Although, I'm not sure if you are Earthen. I just kind of assumed. Sorry.

Anyways, I'm writing this because we've got another week until our next stop and I'm bored. There's been nothing broken, so nothing for me to fix, and everyone else is busy with their jobs. So hopefully I get some entertainment out of writing a letter.

So I suppose some questions then. Where are you from? It would be cool if you could explain it to me. Especially if you're Earthen. None of the others ever seem to have the time to explain exactly what a ballpoint pen is. Oh, and what do you do as a job? I personally can't exactly disclose mine, seeing as it's technically illegal, but I'd love to know yours. I think we'll go with that, for now. Thanks for reading, I guess.

Se'dil te Ixe,
Ali Samul

dearest Ali Samul,

Hello! I am Geneviera I am technically an Earthen but purebreed Earthens do not consider me one of them, you see I was born on earth but I am from a species of winged creatures called Fairies. Fairies are identical to humans except one thing, we have giant transparent wings sprouting from our back.

My job is to go around flower fields and make sure their progression is going as planned and to rid the fields of flowers that aren't growing successfully or at the rate they should. I find this job quite interesting and calming, I get to spend more than half my day picking flowers, smelling them and looking at them.

I come from a Fairy father and a human (purebreed Earthen) mother, so im technically half Earthen…or something like that. Im sure in time you'll figure out how Earthens reproduce, but for now i'm gonna leave you wondering—

It was nice reading your letter and writing to you, I hope something minor on the ship breaks so you don't have to be bored the entire trip.

sincerely, Geneviera

P.S a ballpoint pen is something mainly used for writing on Earth, in fact im using it right now to write this letter, its a long skinny tool that when you press the tip to something, ink comes out of it. They can come in almost all colors, red, blue, green, purple, silver, white, black and even gold!

To Whom It Does Not Concern -

Salut - greetings from Below. I'm Corrin D'Hiver, and I have many, many queries as to who you are and what world you come from. I am writing this with the finest ink I could find, crafted from the blood of a human king. I have many things that I wonder - in your world, do they celebrate the Hallowed Eve? If so, then you have us to thank. Moi, and the other residents of the Unterworld. We are the souls you undoubtedly celebrate on the day.
Do you hunt, in your world? I've been told that in the Above, the mortals' food just sits still and waits to be selected for the kill. Such a concept is unnatural, I suppose.
Ah, oui! What is your species' life length? I would like to know how long I have to finish this letter before you die. My species has not yet discovered a natural end to our lives. We are Deathborns, children of Death. Or Legacies of the Deathborns, as is my case.
Do you have what is known as a sky in your world? Ours is an illusion crafted by my aunt, and if the illusion were not here, we would be staring a human filth all day.
My apologies. I would not consider you filth. But I am wondering - if you are Human, are you upset that I am writing with the blood of one of your kings?
Also - please, send me confirmation that A) you are either alive or dead, so I know that you art not a demon and B) I need to know - what is this potatoe that humans consume with great zeal? And where can I hunt some for myself? And why must you boil a potatoe in oil? Hath it offended you in is final breaths?

With Greatest Interest And Sincerementations,
Corrin D'Hiver.

also please excuse my spelling and grandma. Mortal is not my first language

Hello Geneviera,
I would be honored to know your family name as well. It's more a sign of respect than of usage. In my culture, it's bad luck to use a last name that doesn't belong to you. And along the note of my heritage, you thankfully do not need to worry about explaining how Earthens reproduce. We have similar…anatomy, if you forgive the wording.

As for things breaking, my friend Lybra damaged our stabilizers for the fifth time the other day, which gave me something to work on for a bit. Although Ly breaks them a lot. I love him, but he's a bit of an idiot.

The letter I received from you was very pretty in the way the letters were formed. I'm not sure if there's an Earthen word for that, but on my planet, we call it gel'dev. You have very pretty gel'dev. What is your favorite flower to check on? And what is your family like, if you don't mind my asking? I would love to know more about your job, it's unlike anything I've ever heard of.

Se'dil te Ixe,
Ali Samul

Dear Ali Samul.

Hello again!

Im glad your friend broke the stabilizers on your ship so you didn't have to sit around bored the entire trip, though I wonder where you are going.

Thank you for asking about my personal life, not many people know much about me. You see your view of me after this might change because technically I am considered a wind fairy and evil as well. I will dwell on that statement later in this very letter, but for now I shall answer your questions.

My favorite flower to check up on is a flower called Chrysanthemum, mouthful isn't it? They're quite beautiful though, they range in various different colors from sunset orange to lilac purple (the purple ones are my favorite.) They are fluffy looking with many many small petals, they remind me of my grandmother, who was plump and soft spoken, yet strong and open minded. Its funny how certain things such as flowers can be compared to other things sacred to you, such as people.

My family is quite, how do I put this—out there. My father is a wind fairy, but also black, making the discrimination against him I witnessed my entire life fearfully terrible, seeing as he was two things in a world that hated his entirety for his skin color and his wings. My mother was pale and beautiful with the longest blonde hair you ever saw with your eyes, she was a human. My parents got married secretly when they were seventeen, a couple years younger than myself and have been together ever since— my parents were the ripe age of nineteen when I was born. And to their dismay I was not only born mixed race but double mixed race, a wind wind fairy and a woman of color.

My entire life my parents tried their best to shield me from the hatred that purebreed humans would throw at me, but they could only do it for so long. They sent me to school, where I was constantly harassed and picked on due to simply who I was. When I was a child my love for my parents grew into hatred, by the time I was a teenager my love was completely transformed, why would my parents have kids if they knew they were going to have to go through so much just because they existed? That question littered in my mind for my entire childhood and I gripped it, held onto it, lived it, personified it. I left my parents when I was nineteen to live with my master, someone who everyone in the near vicinity is scared of, but they took care of me and in exchange I followed them and gave them my loyalty and love.

I hope what i just admitted didn't change your idea of me, I simply am who I am.
Though I do go out of my way to create trouble for humans by creating whirlwinds and tornadoes, I only try to aim for hurting people who have previously hurt me in a desperate act for revenge.

What is your friend Ly like? Would you describe him to me? He sounds quite interesting if I do say so myself.

Sincerely, Geneviera Angelos~

Hello Geneviera,
I know what you mean when you said that humans didn't like you for your race. My species has been mistreated by Earthens as well, due to our culture and the way we look. They can be cruel, can't they? Chrysanthemum sounds a bit like a word in my language, cris'ante, which means star. I also once met an Earthen woman named Chrysanthemum, who laughed when I tried to pronounce it. I didn't mind, it did sound funny in my mouth.

Your family sounds like an interesting group. Would you mind telling me exactly what a wind fairy does besides check flowers? Forgive me for my curiosity, but your Earthen affairs sound so interesting.

You asked where we are going and I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Lybra's the pilot and Kera is the navigator and neither of them have told the rest of us what's going on. That's another thing about Lybra, he likes to keep things surprises. I figured I'd tell you since you asked about him. He's half Earthen, like you, although I don't think he really likes that part of him. I've never asked. Like I said earlier, he's our pilot who likes to break things and tell really stupid jokes. And he likes to…what's the Earthen word for it? Like joking, but more…romantic? He likes to do that a lot, mostly to me. I'm not sure if it's serious or not. I take it as a joke, however.

Anyways, hopefully we'll reach our destination soon. Until then, I look forward to hearing from you.
Sedil te Ixe,
Ali Samul

dear Ali Samul,

The word for joking in a romantic way is referred to as flirting, some men on Earth do this alot.
Though not all people who flirt on a daily basis mean it in a serious romantic way, as you might already know.

Most Wind Fairies also help traffick wind related natural disasters such as whirlwinds, tornadoes, sandstorms,dust storms and tropical cyclones and what not. Though for me personally since I thrive off of creating natural disasters rather than preventing them, I do quite the opposite.

I hope your captain flirting with you doesn't make you uncomfortable, or I might have to have a word with him. Sorry my letter is so short compared to the last I have more questions for you than last time though.
What is your family like? If you came to Earth would you visit me, even though im considered evil? Do you still think I have pretty gel'dev?

Sincerely, Geneviera Angelos~

Dear Geneviera,
We don't have many wind storms where I come from, except for the gusts that come with rain, but I don't doubt that what you do is important in its own way. Every planet needs weather, even natural disasters. And I do still think you have pretty gel'dev, which I found out later from our healer is called handwriting in Earthen, which I suppose is a bit blunt. It does get to the point, though.

I don't mind Lybra's flirting. I find it funny, most of the time, but it can get a bit excessive at some points. As for visiting, I would try to see you if I could. I've always wanted to visit Earth, mostly to see how their rainforests differ from the one I grew up in. I've heard they're much smaller, but you can tell me just how big they are.

My family is a bit of a complicated situation. I have a mother, a father, and a younger brother named Tenuelva, although he shortens it to Ten. I haven't seen them for nearly 10 years, after I was forced away. I miss them, though, and I hope to see them again soon.

I suppose it's time for some questions. Do you have any pets? If so, what are they? (Also, what does a dog look like?) And is there anyone else in your life? Friends, family, partners?
Se'dil te Ixe,
Ali Samul

Dear Corrin D'Hiver,

Greetings from the seas.

I'm Ash Conner and I live aboard the SBS Raven. Human kings? We had kings? That must've been before my time. I believe we do celebrate Hallowed Eve, under different names. Unterworld? As in, under the world? Under land? It must be so different to walk on land let alone under it. Do you have the sea where you are from? Is there sea under the world?

You can't really hunt in the seas, we fish I guess, I think some ships do go landway to hunt and the ports might do so. I guess they must because of the landmeat we have aboard. You've to watch out for riders though, I hear they sit atop beasts taller than humans that can run 8 times faster. I think they'd be fascinating to meet. What do you eat? Do you have fish, landmeat, or plants?

Life length. Hmm… No clue. Maybe to 80 years? I'm only 20 though so I will not die while corresponding with you. You don't die? Fascinating. How does that work? Do you keep growing or at a certain point do you just stop?

Oh, the sky. We do. It is glorious. Full of stars at night, and with beautifully formed clouds in the day. Surely a sight to behold. Human filth? What do you mean by that?

I don't know what a king is so I do not think I am upset by it. Do you have kings? What are they?

What is it like under the world? What do you do? For a job? Is it dark down there? Have you ever been on a ship?

I am indeed living. A potato is a plant, that you eat. I think you can do other things with them too, not just boiling. I've never had one, I'll see if we can get one next we return to Port Seal, I'll tell you what they are like.

Your grammar is fine, mine probably isn't great either.

Forever and Fortune,
Ash Conner,
Navigator-in-training,
SBS Raven

dear Ali Samul,

thank you, I find your gel'dev very pretty too. I must say my job making natural disasters isn't really a job, more of a hobby. Though creating these I must say may be the reason other people consider me evil. I think it may be a good thing you don't have many wind storms, speaking from the perspective of someone who creates them; they can cause much mayhem.

I too haven't seen my family in years, though this may also strongly correspond to the fact that I am what I am,or to put it bluntly; evil. May I express how much I hate this word, I dont think im evil just…different. I also hope you see them soon, I would love to meet them someday as well, but I think we both know that's probably vaguely impossible.

I do not have any pets as of now, I did when I was living with my parents when I was a mere child though. We had a dog; dogs look kind of like wolves but less distinct, sharp features. His name was Arlo, he had golden fur, much like my mothers golden hair and he was energetic and playful. He was my comfort and at most times one of my only friends besides Ryen, whom I'm sure I will explain in later letters.

Arlo would lay with me in bed, curled up right next to me during storms, he was terrified of thunder and lightning, which I always, and still find funny considering he wasn't scared of many things. He was the breed known as a golden labrador.

What is that phrase you always sign before you put your name? What does it mean? Im curious—

Sincerely, Geneviera Angelos

To Ash Connor-

Hello again! I am somewhat aggrieved to tell you that you have brought even more questions to light upon my soul. I will answer yours as best as I can. The Unterworld is similar to the underworld, or Davy Jones' locker, or hell, or whatever you want to call it. But we are not dead. We are the things that would bring great turmoil upon the human world if we were to walk among mortals and be seen. They would surely kill us and drink our blood or some other horrible thought to see if they can, by ingesting us, gain our immortality. Demons, banshees and Deathborns live here.
We do not, to my knowledge, have a sea. We have lakes and creeks. Is a sea like a lake or a creek? Can you have a sea in your backyard, like you can a creek? I would like to have a sea in my backyard. Do frogs live in seas, as they do creeks?
What is a rider? Do you mean a horse, or perhaps a common demon? Both fit the description. I do hope that no lowly common has been frolicking about in the Above whilst the rest of us are stuck down Below… We eat plants, and planteaters. I have sent for potatoe seeds from the black market as soon as possible. Would a black market sell potatoes, or is that for beings of higher status?
We do not die, oui. We can simply choose an age, once we have been that age, where we liked ourselves best, and that is how we will look. For the remainder of our lives. Until we change our minds. Again. Our toes grow abnormally long, though, with every passing century. Our Eldest wear sandals as a mark of their status.
Oh, to see the sky. By human filth, I mean the undersides of your shoes. And buildings, and cars, and PortaPotties. I wonder if we could see the sea from Below. How would that work? Would I see the seabed or would I see the watery depths?
La vie under the world… I think of the Below as I'm sure you do your sea and skies. With wonder and awe…. for we have taken this space and hollowed it out, and populated it with humankind's imagined things for millions of years. And still nobody has "dug a tunnel to China" and found us out.
We do not have kings. I somewhat wish we did, so we could have a palace.

With Wishes and Dreams,
Corrin D'Hiver

Dear Geneviera,
Based on your letters, I don't believe you're evil either. Sometimes being different is good. I'm considered evil by a lot of people too. Actually, maybe not evil, but certainly bad. I won't sugarcoat it for you; I'm a thief. And technically a murderer, but that part wasn't technically my fault. And we're definitely smuggling some things on this ship and our healer is absolutely practicing medicine without a license. Anyways, I know what you mean by being different.

I had to ask Lybra what a wolf looked like because I don't know about those either and instead he just showed he a picture of a golden labrador, the one you said you had. They do look very soft and cuddly. We don't have anything like them on my planet and now I think I want a dog in the future. You know, when I'm not stealing things anymore. Also, please do tell me about your friend Ryen. I would love to hear more about them, whoever they may be.

And the phrase I put at the end of my letters, se'dil te Ixe, simply means "In Ixe's blessings." Ixe is the god of my people's religion. We believe he brings the rain that falls almost continuously on my planet of Tallesia. The phrase is merely a saying of goodbye. If you have anything like that in your Earthen language, I would love to know. I've never heard anything other than "goodbye." Hope to hear from you soon.

Se'dil te Ixe,
Ali Samul
(ps thank you for the comment on my handwriting. I've been trying to improve on my Earthen script, with some help from Lybra.)