15th Letter; text

[discretion]

[The text appears handwritten on those NVs that can process it as such: elegant, slightly stylized, beautiful.]

Another birthday come and gone. It's difficult to believe.

At times like this it's hard not to look backward at all of the things you have left behind coming here, to be buried in bittersweet thoughts of what could have been.

For new arrivals, I know it must be difficult to face. There is a great deal of help out here at the Newcomer Community Center, but the best advice I can give is to put one foot in front of the other. In August, I will have lived in Siren's Port for two years.

I consider it my home now. I know for some it will never be home, and I understand why that is. But I hope if it cannot be your home, that we newcomers can still become your second family. The company is what makes this city bearable.

Take care, my friends. My family.

Comments

[mediumdrip]

I'd love to go with you. [Blaine says honestly.] It might do me some good too.

[discretion]

Really? [He's still so not used to people being interested in the things he likes. He's thrilled, so much he gives Blaine a quick hug about his shoulders.] Great!

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine smiles at the hug] So what do you do with the group?

[discretion]

Um, well, right now everyone's given up stuff for Lent, so we mostly talk about what that's like for us, talk about strategies for coping with it. A whole bunch of the kids were going through caffeine withdrawal the first week or so, that was amusing. [Franz is quiet for a long moment, uncommonly fidgety.] I gave up alcohol. Daedalus has been hinting for a long time that I drink too much, and I wanted to prove to him I could stop if I wanted to.

[mediumdrip]

That's really good. [a pause] Do you think they'll be okay with me being there even if I'm not observing Lent?

[discretion]

I don't see why not. Sometimes other kids bring their friends to.

[He looks a bit sheepish.] They've been bothering me to bring someone... apparently since Daedalus is older, they have it in their heads that I don't have any friends my own age.

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine chuckles a bit] There's nothing wrong with that.

[discretion]

I'm really terrible at all of this kind of stuff. Having friends my own age, having a normal birthday... [Franz laughs and shakes his head.] Maybe I do take life a little too seriously. I wasn't like this, before...

[mediumdrip]

You can't blame yourself. From what you've told me, your reality can't have made it easy.

[discretion]

I wasn't always serious - but it was mostly because I had other friends in the same position. We tried hard to forget that we'd all have to get married in a few years. There was always that black cloud hanging over. And now I'm going into politics. Working at the NPP is already pretty serious, with all the constant threats it receives.

Sometimes I just feel like I can't relax, can't let my guard down even for a moment. Because the moment I do, everything that I value will be taken away. So I work hard all the time.

[Franz shakes his head a little.]

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine moves to put his arm around Franz. If he's allowed, he'll put Franz into a hug.]


I know what you mean.

[discretion]

[Franz loves hugs. He is going to enjoy the hell out of it and feel very comforted! He's quiet, and actually clings to his friend a little.]

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine settles into it as well and rests his head against Franz for a moment. He really is just enjoying the comfort from Franz.]

[discretion]

[So it's going to be like this for a long time, probably right up until Franz decides perhaps he likes this a bit too much. He's suddenly very aware of himself, where his arms and his shoulder and his cheek must be touching. It's warm.

Ha. Well. Being 18 won't be any different than being 17, will it? That'll be one for the confession booth. The Ten Commandments are pretty clear about not coveting what belongs to another man, though technically isn't he the one who belongs to someone else who feels like coveting...?

Franz pulls away with a laugh, shaking his head.]

Ah, that's enough of that...! If we hug too much now, we won't have any left for the youth group meeting.

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine smiles a bit at the joke as he pulls away.] I don't think I could ever run out of hugs.

[discretion]

[Franz laughs, patting his shoulder.] You're too sweet for words sometimes, Blaine.

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine laughs softly and then teases Franz lightly] I'm not so sure. I can probably think of a few words to call myself.

[discretion]

Only if they're variations of 'amazing' and 'gorgeous' and yes, 'sweet'.

[Franz wags a finger at him in mock authority.]

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine chuckles softly at the compliments] Thank you. I think those words can be better used to describe the birthday boy, though.