Work Text:
Dear Kagami,
I'm sorry, I just had to start the letter like that. I've never sent a handwritten letter before! Well, I did when I was five and grandma asked me to send her a card for Christmas, but jeez. It feels really different now, somehow. Probably because I'm writing and sending this all on my own and Dad isn't holding my hand about it, but also, writing a letter at sixteen feels so very different!
Anyway, that's all just — I wanted to say good luck! I know you were a little nervous before you left so I wanted to tell you that no one is better than you. Not even Adrien. You're going to crush it and nobody's coming close. Okay?
And, um, what else… Tikki says hi, Alya says hi, I bet everyone else says hi too. You're really popular here, you know. I bet everyone is missing you loads and everyone's definitely hoping for you to do your best. Oh, Mum also says hi! And that you'll do great. Dad isn't in today, he's visiting Grandpa, but I bet he feels the same.
And, also. I lov
Ugh. I can't even write it yet. Sorry! I'll man up one of these days.
That's all for now. I hope you're doing great! Send me a letter back once you get this. I wanna hear everything!
— Marinette
Dear Kagami,
oh, I'm buzzing every time I write that! It feels so good. Like I'm sitting on the English moors and looking out a frosty window as I write under candlelight, waiting for my husband to come home from Tuscany. Except you're not my husband, of course. Haha! Could you imagine? Freakyyyy. I mean, it wouldn't be freaky to be married to you, but — oh, you know what I mean. Not yet. Ahahaha, anyway —
I'm sending this now because I forgot to say something in my previous letter! I'd already put it in the mailbox when I remembered, so I decided to just send you another one. Could you buy me some dango? I'll pay you in hugs and my allowance. I still get an allowance, is that weird? I guess it's kind of a salary for working in the bakery sometimes. But I'll pay you however much you want. Also, get me the weirdest freakiest Kit-Kat type you can find. Something God would hate me for eating. I'm curious, I've heard all kinds of weird stuff!
Have you started competing yet? I know this letter will take a few days to reach you — they said a week, maybe, at the post office? I forgot when you were supposed to start, but I have your return date circled on my calendar. July 22nd. I'll be there at the airport, I promise. Bring all your trophies!
— Marinette
Dear Kagami,
Hi! I'm writing you once again. I haven't heard back from you yet, which is fine, but I just wanted to talk to you. I miss you so much. I don't remember if I even said that in the previous letters, but I really do. I miss talking to you, I miss seeing your smile, I miss the way you hide that you're giggling with your hand. I've been staring at pictures of you on my wall and I just imagined myself running my finger over the image and that you'd get tousled hair from it. It's silly, I know. Is it creepy, though? I feel like maybe it's a bit creepy. I just miss you so much — I already said that, I just wanted to say it again so you don't forget it.
Your archery gloves were really soft. Are you wearing them now? I don't remember if fencing or archery came first. Could you shoot a sabre with a bow? I bet you can, as long as no one else is nearby. I should get archery gloves too, actually, I think they'd be good to have while I'm working. Admittedly I should have something that covers my whole hand, because you know how bad I can be with a needle if I'm distracted, but whatever. I could wear them and think of you.
Isn't it weird how much easier it is for me to say things like that than, like, the thing? I swear I'm working on it. We've ki**ed, for goodness' sake.
Dear Kagami,
I'm so sorry! I had to put the pen down because I got too embarrassed, and I forgot to actually wrap up the letter. I just sent it and then I realised I wanted to say one more thing. Or ask, I guess. Here goes:
What kind of dinner do you want when you get back? I'm inviting you to my house. On the day of, I mean. You're going straight from the airport to my dining room — well, my parents', but you know the deal.
Anyway. Toodles! Best!
— Marinette
Dear Kagami,
I know I've been sending you a lot of letters lately. I just wish you'd send me something back. I know it's too early to beg for it, but I really do miss you so much. I'm like Heathcliff running over the — heaths, yeah — and begging you to speak to me, or something. I haven't read that book but I've heard the song. I want to hold your hand, y'know? I really want to see you again. And you're not coming back yet, but I can't wait until you do. I called Alya just now to tell her how much I miss you and she said I'm being stupid, but maybe I'm allowed to be a little stupid when I'm in — when — ugh, I can't even say it this way! Chunks. Cheeks. Buttwads. Beans.
What if I try to write like an old fashioned Victorian lady? Like, um… like this:
My heart aches for you. Only you can rescue me from the torment that is to be without you, because that makes sense, doesn't it? I carve the days I'm without you into the walls of my room, which is my cage. Reality crushes against me like a big heavy rock. Until the day I see you again, I am in torment, because I lo
Nope. Still doesn't work. I can't even get into the mindset when I'm trying to be all gothic and portentous, phooey. Sorry.
But I'm rooting for you, okay? Please win, and please come back soon. July 22nd. I'm ready for it. I'm too ready for it. Alas, my darling, please return to me soon!
— Marinette
Dear Kagami,
Just one more letter. It's so fun to write letters. Don't feel like you have to respond to this one specifically, even though I want to get a letter back from you just in general. I hope you haven't forgotten me already! There are probably lots of cool people around you. Super interesting people. Hot people, even. People who look way better than me.
Oh, I'm making myself jealous just imagining all the amazing and athletic people you're hanging out with right now. Or tomorrow, or yesterday. Whenever it is, I hope you'll still be thinking of me. I want you to come back, after all. Have you had dinner yet? I wonder if we could eat the same dinner one day, just as a physical distance / spiritual closeness thing. I mean, it won't be today anyway, but maybe we could plan for something. July 20th, maybe. What do you want to eat then?
I hope I'm not being a nag. I really want to hear from you. I want to hear about all your wins and I want to see the video recordings. I wish I could be there with you.
— Marinette
Dear Kagami,
I really admire you, you know. It's so cool that you can just go out there and compete. I'm really scared of competing, like — if I lose I feel like I'd hate myself. And I don't feel like I could have the confidence of thinking I would win. You're brave enough to just go for it, and you always tell me you're confident, but I don't actually know how much you're pretending. I know you pretend sometimes, but… I just want you to know you can be open with me, okay? Always. If you have anything you feel you can trust me with, I'd love to hear it.
It's not like I don't think you'll do well. But if you are unsure sometimes, I can be there for you. Just call me, or visit me. I'll help. I'll do anything you want. I don't want to call you right now unless you want me to, but it's important to me to be there for you. I want you to feel safe with me, always, forever.
Sorry. I didn't mean for this to get so existential. I just wanted to say… you're great, don't let anybody get you down. Best girl in the whole world — that's you. Hope to hear from you soon.
— Marinette
Kagami
So.
I got your letters.
Marinette
oh!
Kagami
All seven of them.
Marinette, I got all of these today.
Did you write all of them in one day?
Marinette
uh…
what was the last letter?
Kagami
It opened with: "I really admire you, you know."
Marinette
oh! yeah i sent u 7 letters that day
i
um
i may/may not have sent u 9 letters in 1 day later
Kagami
What?
Marinette
so um expect 5-10 letters a day going forward
i'm writing another one right now
Kagami
Marinette…
Marinette
can't help it! writing letters is so romantic
i feel likea victorian noblewoman 🕯️
come home 2 me darling
Kagami
Do the letters also get increasingly unhinged from here?
Marinette
hethcliff come home
oh
i don't remember but there are some weird ones
please don't be offended
Kagami
I am not offended. I'm worried. If you missed me enough to send me
Wait a moment. You said it might take a week for the letters to reach me.
I left five days ago. You started sending letters like that on the day I left?
Marinette
😶 no comment
Kagami
There won't be any allowance left to pay for the dango I am buying you.
Marinette
nuh! i've saved up
i can pay for a million dango
Kagami
I severely doubt it.
Do you really miss me that badly?
Marinette
…
yes……
i miss u 💔 so bad
Kagami
Sigh.
I'm coming over. With Longg. Expect me at your window in ten minutes.
Marinette
no!!! you cannot abuse the miraculous!
Kagami
It's better than you abusing the postal service. I'm visiting you right now.
That's final. No arguing.
I can see you typing. No arguing!
Got it?
Marinette
yes dear
Kagami
Good.
Also, I'll have you know that I have already completed my fencing tournament.
I got second place.
Marinette
amazing! ur so great kagami
❤️
Kagami
Furthermore, I will buy you dango and archery gloves and the most disgusting Kit-Kat in the world.
On one condition.
STOP sending letters.
I'll come visit you with Longg every evening instead.
A balcony rendezvous is more romantic than a letter.
Marinette
awww
but
okay i rly want u to come!
but even sooooo
Kagami
You may send me two more letters, total. No more than one per day.
Marinette
yay!!!! thank u
❤️💕❤️
Kagami
One more thing before I leave.
I am returning home on July 20th. You must have mixed up the date.
Marinette
… fudgenuts
Kagami
So we will eat dinner together that day not just spiritually, but bodily.
Be prepared.
Marinette
okay the 20th still works
sry
thank u! ❤️
i'll go open the window for u rn
Kagami
Good.
Marinette
and u can read the letter i'm writing u when u come
cos i'm gonna write you two different letters after this one
Kagami
Why not just send me that letter?
Marinette
bcos
i finally wrote it down‼️
the thing ive been trying to write
all this time
the thing you know
Kagami
…
… I'm looking forward to it.
Time me. Eight minutes.
— UNREAD MESSAGES —
Marinette
okay!
see u
MESSAGE DELETED: love u