Work Text:
❦
Applicants College
Mystacor
February 4, 968
Adney Dear
If You could send by post the red Gloves which I left in the top draw of my Chest, as it is colder up here than I anticipated. I hope the Family is well
Many Thanks
Your Penelope
❦
6, Sowdean Road
Colonia
February 8, 968
Penelope,
If you chose ever to visit, you will find that no, the Family is not well. Mama is distrought, and Dada and I particlarly angry that you could abandon so carelessly your Good Sense and the Ideals of the People who worked so hard to raise you. We are also frankly mortifide by the whole Affair, Mama finds her self infact frailer and Dada’s illness no better either, but he works harder than ever for the Community as your leaving has cast Doubts on his Faith to the Movement. I often find myself in disbelief that you could be so selfisc and cruel.
I do not inclose your Gloves, as I do not think there is a Wind cold enough to chill your Hart. Actually it is arrogant I believe of you to be asking Favours of me at such a Time as this.
Your Sister Ariadne.
❦
Applicants College
Mystacor
February 11, 968
Dearest Adney,
My, you have become passionate over this, as is your Fashion I suppose. I must assure you, strainge as it seems to need writing the words, that I meant to ill intent in requesting my Gloves posted to me.
Have Mama drink ginger Tea, it keeps Her spir as it keeps Her spirits up, and do not be stingy with firewood (as the College unfortunately is, and We are chilled to the bone some nights!) And as for Father, when he becomes angry that I have left, I might suggest you remind him of how his poor nerves might be if I had stayed. If all else fails, apply the Ginger Tea to him as well.
I am truly sorry you felt I have so injured the Reputation of the Family. Tell me Adney would it help for you to publicly disown me? It is not something I am opposed to in particular, nor much else, although I would be quite pleased for you to refrain from Murder.
Advise further as to the form of Retribution which appeals to you and I shall provide.
With great Love,
Light Spinner.
(P.S. which is a vocational Name I have earned since I am so dedicated to my Studies and have as the teachers say a great deal of Raw Talent, although I doubt you much care.)
❦
6, Sowden Road
Colonia
March 30, 968
Penelope,
Mama is much disheartened by her Visit with you. She has barely left her Bedroom since her Return, and eats very little.
It sickens me that you should dare to damage her already ailing Morale so. One wonders how any Creature but an emotionless Demon could refuse to see her own dying Father. I might have Sorrow for how far you have strayed, but your Cruelty pricludes even a bit of it, and I have nothing but Contempt for you and your misguided Loyalty to Mystacor.
Mama would like me to write an Adendum of worry for your Relation to that Teacher Norwinn, you have really upset her it seems by being so odd about it when she visited.
And if I cared at all Pen I would beg you not to fraternise with that Ilk, as all of Them from Mystacor are selfish and alitist, although I fear you may be going the same Way.
If you feel no Guilt having read this Letter, I am truly disgusted with what you have become.
Sincerely and truly
Ariadne.
❦
Applicants College
Mystacor
April 3, 968
Dear Adney,
I am, and told Mother as much when I met with her, deeply saddened by the news of Father’s health. I am also sad to hear of Mother’s distress at what I admit may have been a rather abrupt dismissal, and for that please pass on my apologies. However, I must maintain my position that at this juncture my studies take priority over my personal life. It is, I think, not such a thing a non-academic would understand. (I might also suggest that your rather frosty reception of my decision may contain some indication at its [the decision’s] roots.)
As to Professor Norwyn – this is how his name is correctly spelled – it is neither your business nor Mother’s to question either of our intentions, as there is nothing more between us than the natural rapport of a tutor and his pupil. Please let her know that her concern is unwarranted and, to be perfectly honest, a little patronising.
My letterbox remains open if in the future you will choose to be a little more civil to me.
A sorore tua,
Light Spinner.
❦
6 Sowdean Rd
Colonia
July 8, 968
Penelope,
At Sundown yesterday Dada succumbed to his Illness.
I do not expect Commisserations, nor you to visit, although perhaps you might comfort Mama by doing so.
Ariadne.
❦
6 Sowdean Road
Colonia
July 10, 968
Today Dada has been buried next to our Aunt and our Grandparents. Around 30 Friends and Family attended to mourn. None asked after you.
❦
College of Historical Studies
Mystacor
May 5, 969
Ariadne dear,
I am enquiring as to the state of our Mater. She has not responded to the previous two letters I sent to her, and I do worry. Please advise that you have not burned the things before she could lay eyes on them.
I suppose I am obliged to ask how you are faring. And how too to the inane political struggle? Word has not much reached us here, I am afraid. Do not be discouraged: I am sure you are regarded with much respect locally.
With much love, I am certain, although hard pressed to see where I might have misplaced it at the minute,
Light Spinner.
❦
6 Sowden Road
Colonia
May 11, 969
Penelope,
You cannot possibly believe that Mama is anything but devastated that you seem to have well and truly cut your Family from your life in favour of that Magic. And that on top of having lost her Husband not a year ago. I am however no longer astonished by your Lack of Empathy, and have been reflecting therefore.
I attach a copy of a Leaflet from a Rally I assisted in organising recently. My hope is that in reading it you will be restored to your Good Senses. I am well aware of the Possibility that you and your witch Friends will destroy the poor Thing, however I know that I would not begrudge it to you, as I accept that you must work through the Childishness you are showing in order to mature and return Home.
Of course I do keep the letters that you Write, and Mama re-reads them frecquently. If you are to send more, though, please do not use such College Language, as it really upsets Her. I however look forward to hearing from you in whatever Manner you please, and look forward further to seeing you again.
As ever your dearest Adney.
❦
College of Historical Studies
Mystacor
December 14, 970
My sister Ariadne,
I write to inform you of my engagement to Professor Norwyn of the College of Historical Studies. We will be married vere anni proximi.
Give my regards to Mater. I suspect neither you nor she nor any of the family have a desire to attend the wedding, although please reply with notice if I am incorrect in this assumption.
A sorore tua carissima,
Light Spinner.
❦
6 Cobalt Road
Colonia
March 16, 981
Dear Mystacor,
To the best of my Knowledge this Letter will not now reach my sister Penelope (You called her, I believe, Light Spinner) although I would like you to be assured that I hope greatly for her to be captured, and therefore am writing to her.
Pen, I must admit I am in no Shock to discover that you are now a Murderer besides an Arsonist and Vandal and Witch. However I am perhaps just sorry not to have seen it sooner, and saved Mama the anguish of receiving the News, and not to have saved our Dada’s desecrated Grave the brunt of your newfound Insanity. I do not know where you are now, but for the sake of the People of Etheria, I hope it is somewhere that you are well alone.
I am sorry also that we could not have been closer in the Past, and that given your recent Actions I see no Future in which we may become close again.
I enclose the Red Gloves which you asked of me thirteen Years ago.
Cum amore et timore,
your Adney.
❦