Work Text:
Dear Ellie
“No, wait, hang on.”
“Clyde, you've only written her name, for Judoon's sake!” Rani tried to halt her best friend before he could scribble over the opening words. She was unsuccessful.
“You mean her name that isn't actually her name? That name!?” Clyde bellowed at her with a level of stubbornness, impressive even for him.
“Well how else are you going to start the letter? With her address? Or 'to the girl from the poster'?”
Clyde seemed to ready a reply, but his abilities faltered.
“Okay, fine, Ellie it is.”
He twisted back to the note. Rani frowned at him softly. His unnerved demeanour was drastically different to the emotions their bickering would usually conjure.
“I'm sorry.” She placed a hand on his back. “It doesn't have to be perfect, you know.”
“I know.” He murmured, not looking away from the paper, the pressure from his grasp evident in its creases. “But how are you supposed to write a letter to someone you'll never see again? Unless it's to your now ex-boss.”
Rani gave a half hearted smile.
“Wish I knew. Maybe best to keep it lighter.”
She wasn't sure of her own words as she spoke, but it was her strongest suggestion. Adding, “More like writing to a pen-pal, less like someone you left at the altar?”
Her comment was intended to alleviate the tension, but Clyde swallowed. A pinch of regret pricked her, though she should have known better.
Rani had her theories regarding what the interactions between him and Ellie may have resembled. Equally, the reality of what caused it was too bleak for her to be angered over what felt comparatively inconsequential.
“...Okay.” Clyde answered. Crumpling up the paper and throwing it on the ever growing pile, he loosened his hold of the pen and started on the newest sheet.
Dear Ellie
Hey, was your name cursed as well? Guess we're even on the 'mystery title' thing now.
“Alright, line one I guess.”
“Off to a good start, I'd say.” Rani patted his pack, deciding this wasn't the time to comment on how it'd only taken 32 minutes to get 2 sentences into the card.
“Do you think it reads okay? Like is it too sarcastic sounding?”
“Was she the stingy type?” Rani asked.
“No, not at all!” Clyde sat up a little, seeming lightly offended.
Rani stared calmly back at him. “Then we're good.”
Slowly, he settled, turning back to the paper. The seconds felt languid as his eyes poured into the potential of the blank white and despite it all, he let out a small smile. Rani supposed he was imagining. Or reminiscing.
“If there's anything you don't want me to read, I can g-”
“No.” Clyde's head darted back to her, his eyes immediately pleading with her own.
“Please no.” His eyes twitched, his head jittered, his lips quivered and she seemed to melt. Softly, Rani scooted closer.
Since they'd found him on the streets 2 weeks ago, Clyde hadn't been managing being by himself. A good morning and good night text from him was no novel concept, but the late night calls, this sleepover being the third in 12 days.
Any moment now, everyone he loved could disown him again, so his mind must say.
Rani placed her arm around him and squeezed his shoulder.
“Okay. Well we've got all night, Mr Langer.”
She stared into the note with him, hoping that would support his challenge. Eventually, he managed to bring pen to paper.
I just wanted to say that I didn't want to leave. My family....
“Is something wrong?” Rani whispered.
“Writing 'Family'. Feels, I don't know, insensitive. Maybe I should put friends instead.”
“Maybe.” Rani replied. “But couldn't that possibly have problems too?”
Clyde was unmoving as he contemplated her counterargument.
“I don't think there's a perfect option.” Rani added. “But still-” she glanced at him, “Ellie's tough. Right?”
“Yeah.”
My family came to pick me up. They wanted to take me back. Too much to explain for one letter, really.
“Think she'll buy the glowing eyed, super ancient, alien, teleporting totem pole and the alien kid that saved me?” He asked.
Rani smirked. “If only. Have I ever told you your handwriting is top of the line, by the way?”
“Hmm. Artist's hand, I suppose.”
The pen remained frozen in his grasp again. His fingers seemed to tighten.
“Take your time, Clyde.” Rani uttered.
But I'm writing this now, because and forgive the melodrama, it's still killing me that I didn't get to say anything to you. I know you'd probably say you're used to everyone -
Rani would never tell him she heard his choke.
in your life abandoning you. But I really didn't want to be another one of them. I guess maybe that's the main point of this letter. I'm sorry that we didn't get to say goodbye.
The writing was beginning to grow messier, the joining of lines more imperfect. Rani believed that made it better.
I'm sorry if me leaving is why you got on the night dragon (you really got me there, by the way). And I'm sorry things ended when they did.
That last sentence was written with blatant extra focus and hesitancy. She bit her lip and swallowed to prevent speaking up.
I don't know where I would have wound up, had you not taken me in. But I'll never forget it. I'll forget the body snatching, 12 time planet destroyer or the time the Mona Lisa pointed a gun at my face before I forget any of what you did for me.
“Are you really gonna include that?” Rani laughed lightly.
“May as well at this point.” Clyde chuckled sadly. Evidently, he was easing into the writing process. Rani was glad.
I can't tell you how I got this letter to you. But if the night dragon is interested in a road trip, maybe pay a visit to Bannerman road.
Clyde's hand loosened and the pen fell by his side. Whether he'd finished or was merely exhausted, Rani was unsure.
“Think that's enough?” Clyde asked.
“I'd be swooning if it were me.” She replied.
He smiled. Not quite on the level of his best, but good enough for now. She wondered if he was as conscious of his slow breathing as she was when he picked up the pen one more time.
Best Wishes
Clyde Langer
He stared at it for a while. Rani was about to dare breaking the silence before he got there first.
“It still feels a bit off. Seeing my own name written down, after all that.”
She didn't say anything. Clyde's smirk was bittersweet.
“Imagine that, being thrown off by your own name.”
Rani mulled over what to say. She soon settled on an answer.
“I dunno. I wager that could be more common than you think.”
His eyes seemed to contemplate that idea.
“Do you think it'll work? I mean, do you think Mr Smith will actually be able to get it to her?”
From how his expression begged her for optimism, Rani couldn't answer any other way.
“He's performed greater miracles.”
There was a pause. Before Clyde gently nodded. He set the letter down by his desk, as if it were jewellery.
“You could tell her everything if you really wanted to.” Rani said, readjusting her seating posture, crossing her legs.
Back still turned to her, Clyde replied briskly, but there was a spark of hesitancy as he began.
“I think she already reckoned I was crazy enough as is.”
“Well you already got started on it.”
His focus lingered towards the letter, seemingly considering. But eventually, he rotated back to her.
“I don't want any more people at risk.”
The sides of Rani's lips lowered. She wasn't sure his reasoning was sound. Yet she felt she understood.
“Thanks for being with me for that.” He added slowly, just about managing a smile. “Really.”
She smiled back. She was sure he was just as conscious of how long their wordless exchange lasted. These continuously frequent charged moments didn't stagger her any longer.
“Truly the least I could do. Now come on.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “We can't put off sleep forever.”
“The words of the woefully ill experienced.” Clyde threw back.
“And the responsible.”
-------------------------------------------------
Delicately as always, Clyde shut the bathroom door. Though admittedly, it was difficult to be as discreet when he immediately collided with one of many heavy, sealed cardboard boxes strewn about the hallway. Haphazardly, he shifted his body in the direction of his bedroom, attempting not to disturb his Mother. By the time he reached his door, he was doubtful he succeeded.
His room wasn't entirely empty yet. His redone artwork lay neatly piled, they would of course be the last thing to pack. One shelf still remained upright, naturally it was the one that housed all his favourite movies.
Clyde didn't want this room to be barren just yet. Deny it though he might, he felt moving out was sentimental enough as is.
He motioned towards the door, beginning to close it behind him.
DING
He clenched from head to toe before the surprise wore off and he narrowed his eyebrows. Someone was ringing their door at 11pm?
He made to step back out, though he heard his Mother who, contrary to his belief was still up and about, attending to it.
“Seriously? Well, alright, thanks then.”
Clyde's hand lay on the banister, banking on clarity getting offered to him. Soon enough, he saw her come into view as she ascended the stairs, a cardboard box in her hand. One more for the ever growing collection, he supposed. He prayed Rani's belongings weren't as vast, their flat wouldn't have enough space left to house a graske.
“Can't say I've ever known you to order pizza, let alone this late.” His Mother exclaimed to him.
Clyde took a moment or two after widening his mouth to speak.
“I – I didn't order.”
“They sure said your name. Must be Luke's idea of a leaving present.” She smiled, handing it to him. “Well don't stay up for too long enjoying it.”
“Heh, thanks. G'night again!”
“Goodnight!”
He was surprised she successfully retread the stairway without acting on the excuse to coddle him again. Shifting his attention, Clyde studied the surprise gift. Standard packaging, the usual pizza weight, minimal chance an obscured Slitheen could fit inside, it certainly seemed ordinary enough. His eyes wandered over to the company name-
His heart stopped.
As frantically as he could among all the packages, he scurried back into his room, nearly slamming the door.
Setting himself on the bed, he flipped open the box. He didn't even bother to determine the pizza's flavour, for there was a folded bit of paper in the corner. Frantically, he tucked it out of its confined space and began to unfold it.
Halfway through the process, he could start to make out what it was. Yet he scarcely believed it. And once the contents were fully clear, he felt like he was about to burst out laughing.
It was him. Or rather, he assumed it was supposed to be him. The detail was lacking, his mouth was a few inches too low, the lines were all extremely jagged and the genius in question clearly had to use a second pen midway through.
He was sure he'd be analysing this peculiarity all night long until he noticed something blurred and scattered around the centre. It seemed like letters. Wait no, they must be on the other side.
He spun the paper round. There was a message, in big tatty letters.
Keep being cute, Enrico!
Wishing you the best, Melissa Evans