Work Text:
Hi Sam,
I guess maybe I should put Dear there. Dear Sam. That’s how Mom did letters, but it looks stupid, so I’ll just skip it and get to the part where I say hi. She can fuss at me when I find her.
It’s nice out today. There were some people causing storms last night. Did you know there are cloud people? I guess it makes as much sense as anything else. The wind blew them away, so now it’s bright and blue. There are less pink growths in the sky once you get past the city limits.
I stayed in this place just past the sign. They had rooms with lots of beds. Apparently they don’t get many regular humans, so they kept going back and forth on what room to give me. I tried to tell them I didn’t care, that I’ve lived with shadows and psychos and dinguses, but also wasn’t sure where their ears were, so I could have been talking to their butt for all I know! In the end, they put me with a family of bug people. Maybe they heard me when I told them about Roaches?
It’s funny, the hotel guy apologized for the cramped space, but it was bigger than your apartment! Back then, I didn’t really mind sharing the bed with Joel and Rattie, except for my bed sheets getting holes from sleep-chewing. And the drool! Remember when I got my foot stuck in one of the holes and I fell and you ran in and then you tripped and dropped your plate? Then Rattie cried and Joel got nervous and we had breakfast in bed. Get it? Breakfast, in bed. Hehehe.
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam,
I’ve met lots of people so far. Sometimes they’re kind of weird, but then I think of all our weird friends, and it’s like, what’s weird? There are some scary people too, but I can fight and hide. So far I haven’t seen the Obelisk, even though a lot of people whisper their name. They’re one of the gods, and apparently tall and pointy and hard to miss. I should be able to see them coming, no problem.
By the way, I found the money you slipped into my bag. I told you not to! You always complain that I didn’t listen, but here you are, doing the same thing. Thanks You’re such a worrywart. I know I wasn’t easy to be around At least I put the coins to good use. I found a guy who mutated like Audrey, and even though he’d rather stay put than travel with me, he was happy to chat. Unfortunately, he only gave Licorice Soda, yuck. I pretended to drink a can cause I didn’t wanna hurt his feelings.
Rattie better not still be scared about school. She told me she was worried she was just a dumb rat! What!! She may not read well, but she’s still smart. No one better make fun of her. If I was there, I’d punch any bullies in the nose, but I’m not, so tag, you’re it.
The Four said they could find me again if you want to send something back. I probably won’t have an address for a while.
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam,
It’s me, your favorite troublemaker. You better be doing okay!
I like travelling. Sure, it’s annoying to figure out the details of where to stay, what to eat, etc. etc. etc. I’m glad you I like being able to move around. I’m not meant to be stuck inside! Those two weeks that we hid from the Visitor were awful. Standing on the roof after that was like breathing air for the first time.
The countryside is so different from the city. People got mutated in different ways out here. Lots of plant people and animal people. Or people animals, I guess? I met a beaver lady, and she’s been tagging along with me for a bit. She’s got some crazy chompers! I think she and Leigh would get along. She used to do something with computers, but now she’s part of the rebuilding team. She said it scratches the problem-solving itch, whatever that’s supposed to mean. I think she just likes to stick her nose into people’s business. Like you!
It reminds me of the apartment. The co-op, though it wasn’t that back then. You were just a guy on the top floor. Mom said you were weird. You didn’t have to open the door when I knocked. I could have been some green goblin thing ready to attack. But you opened the door anyway.
I haven’t found Mom yet. I know she’s probably not I don’t think we ever went out this way Before, at least not that I can remember. Sometimes my memories are kind of fuzzy. I do know she talked about flowers a lot. I passed by a big, wild patch of golden flowers that made me think of her, so I just kept walking. A few of the flowers had faces.
Do you like flowers? Maybe I could send you one (not one with a face).
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam,
I told you not to send me money! Use it for the co-op!!
The Exalted Four are freaky when you’re not expecting them. I was walking through this quiet part of the woods, so dark that light comes out in little beams through the branches and makes funny shapes on the ground. It was so peaceful that I didn’t really notice when one of the shadows looked wrong. I happened to glance up, and there they were, just flapping silently in front of me and staring with all those eyes. They’re just lucky my slingshot was in my bag!
Anyway, they gave me your package and even passed along a message from Hellen of all people. I didn’t think she liked me. She was always so gruff and quiet, and I was pretty annoying before she left. Guess I was wrong, huh? She told me that if anyone messed with me, to aim for the eyes. Duh. It’s only a problem when there are more eyes than marbles. Marbles are hard to come by in the forest. I probably should upgrade my weapon one of these days.
Thanks for letting me know about Rattie. I was worried I knew she could do it. And of course Joel is on the honor roll. Nerd! Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like if I stayed. My teachers always yelled at me to stop daydreaming when I looked out the window. I think I’m happier travelling. Still no luck finding Mom. I’m trying to remember if she had any brothers or sisters. Maybe there’s some aunt out there. Maybe she’s an actual ant. Who knows?
I feel like I should know, but the more I try to remember, the more it gets kind of blurry?
I’m enclosing one of the yellow flowers (no face).
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam,
Sometimes it’s hard being on the road. I mean, we fought things at the apartment building, and that was kind of scary and kind of exciting, but there was always the apartment to go back to, you know? No matter how much we wandered the first floor, we had a place to rest. It’s still kind of scary and kind of exciting, but you the apartment isn’t there.
Maybe I should start another letter
I have a new friend, I think? They’ve got, like, a hundred eyes and they don’t say much, but they have been walking with me for the past three kilometres and they’re still hanging around while I write this letter. If anything attacks us and they jump into the battle, then that’ll seal it. Nothing brings people closer than fighting weirdos together.
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam,
Uhhh, don’t freak out, okay?
So, I told you about my new friend. Well, we ran into a motorcycle gang that had fused with their bikes. Like the car people in the basement, made of metal and skin. They smelled like gasoline. Anyway, I pulled out my slingshot, but before I could grab a marble, my friend fell on top of the head bike guy and sort of… absorbed him?
Talk about freaky. One minute he was roaring his engine, and the next his screams were muffled under a sea of gooey eyes. The others got scared and drove off, and I thought that was it. Where are my XP, you know? But then some goo splashed on my hand.
It felt like the time I touched the stove and you yelled at me before going down to Eugene’s to get some Balm. I wiped the goo off, but there were some weird burns that wouldn’t go away, even if it didn’t hurt so much anymore. My friend seemed worried, so we settled in for the night.
Well, I woke up because my hand started itching. My friend’s eyes were closed, and I didn’t want to wake them up, so I went for a walk to take my mind off the itch. I was only a few minutes from camp when I suddenly felt dizzy. I fell down, and I suddenly I could see more than the sky. I saw my stomach, the ground, all sorts of things.
I have an eyeball hand now. Sorry I know you were trying to keep me human safe. It’s a little weird scary fine.
My friend looks sad, but it’s not their fault. It’s like Joel and his sister, I guess. Friendly fire. At least I’m still me.
Love,
Sophie
Hi Sam
Hi Sam
Hi Sam,
Your letter meant a lot. I don’t like getting sappy, so I’ll only say it once, but I dunno what I did to deserve you. Thanks for the glove and the eye drops. Maybe they’ll help me get some shut-eye. Get it? Hehehe.
I gave my friend a name since she can’t speak. She tried to write it down, but it didn’t really work. I think letters got scrambled in her brain. That’s okay. I got that she was a girl. She rolls her eyes, yes, all of them, when I call her Eileen, but I think she likes it. It’s no worse than you naming a rat kid Rattie. Like father, like
Eileen and I are heading west. I know you told me to come home, but I can’t. I’m worried that if I do, I’ll never leave. That small part of me that still exists in Apartment 33 wants to return more than anything. I want eat your homecooked meals. I want to play with Rattie and make fun of Joel. I want to say hi to Sybil and give Morton some of the weird shiny things I’ve found on the road.
But that wouldn’t help me change. Look how much I’ve changed already! I’m waving my hand at you right now. Dizzy…
I’m not dumb. I know Mom isn’t out here, but I want her to be. So I’ll keep looking. I’ll make friends along the way, and we’ll keep each other safe. Friendship makes everything better, right?
You taught me that.
Love,
Sophie