Pig-Delivered Message, Take 2.

[princeinexile]

A happy Pig arrives not long after the rains let up. He has a message! He's useful! The sky isn't pouring down liquid death! It's enough to make him molt for -- well, not joy, but.

[Melaka]

Tell me you're all okay over there please.

[Zuko]


... what, she didn't expect him to be a worry wart?

Comments

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

We're all fine. Building is intact, everyone accounted for. [Katara] ran out to fetch people in. Illyria and Aang were among those caught out, but nothing serious happened to either.

Sarah reckons she can use the acid to make explosives, and is working on that. When [Katara] is rested from the exhaustion, I'll get her to bring in more water to restock our supplies, and clear the roof and courtyard so we can get back to training.

Plans are going ahead. Morale's not too low.

Are you guys alright?

Love,
[Melaka]

P.S. Your spelling looks better.

Attached is a note for Simon from Kaylee. Mel didn't read it.

[princeinexile]

Zuko sure as hell doesn't read the note either, because he's not that type of guy.

Pig returns sometime later, still happy to be moving out of the building. He is even ready to take another letter back. Exciting! Flying! Happy! ...feed him?

[Melaka]

Tris helped me with English, so did Simon. It is the most ridiculously stupid language ever. But for three days, all we had was some playing cards, and a couple bilingual books and nothing to do except give me medication and check my wounds and wonder if you were all okay.

I'm glad [Katara] and [Aang] are okay. Illyria is some sort of God, she should be fine if what she says is true.

We're -- bored, and worried, mostly. You and Kaylee should come over and maybe stay a night, if you can arrange it. Leave Uncle in charge. He can handle it.

Tell Sarah good show with the acid. I will be most pleased to see whatever it is she makes for us... if I ever get out of this [lowest level of the seven hells].

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

Of course she feeds him. And makes a massive fuss of him in the process. Contact! And confirmation he's OK.

[Zuko]

Watch whose language you're calling stupid there. At least you can use it to write more than:
[Zuko]
[Melaka]
[Iroh]
[Sokka]
[Katara]
[Aang] (drawn badly)
[Uncle]
[Lover (male, informal)]
[Ginseng]
[Tea]
[Fire]
[Baby]

Learning one word at a time is spun.

I'll ask Natalie how possible it is to drive that wheeled thing with the ground all wet. Sure Kaylee and River would both like to visit. Don't expect me to be much fun, though. Spend most of my time throwing up right now.
At least we have flushing toilets now.

I asked [Uncle] what that last word said. I think he lied to me. I hope he lied to me.

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

Pig is happy. And goes off to be happy at Zuko. Who is less kind to him then Melaka is, because he's had the owl there for three days chewing his ear. Which is why he's so happy to come back!

[Melaka]

It's so easily screwed up there! I mean, yes, a couple wrong strokes and [Aang] becomes a [yak] but that's something good penmanship fixes!

Anyway, don't rush it if it's dangerous. We're not going anywhere. We just want to see you.

And good for flushing toilets. When [Koto-Player (Feminine; Harper)] gets us hot running water, I may very well kiss him.

And that last word was [the lowest level of the seven hells] -- which I think translates to 'bottomless pit of despair' or 'bottom level of the hells' in your drawn out English language. And that's exactly where we are. Bottomles pits of depair.

Or bored and tiring of each other's company.

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

Nothing wrong with my penmanship. I'm practising, OK? As well as trying to run this place. But I'll make time to see you when the roads are safer.

We have cold running water. That's more than I'm used to. It's not too much effort to heat up.

Tell the doctors I sympathize with them.

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Melaka]

I have faith in you. If nobody got hurt and instead people are still thinking of the 'war effort', then I imagine you're doing just fine.

And I know what you're used to. Hot running water is what I was used to!

And I'll tell them nothing. YOU come tell them, when you can.

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

Thank you.

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Melaka]

Love you too.

[Zuko]

PS. Was recently brought to my attention that we need a girl name. Ideas?

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

A few. Not sure what you'll think of them. Whether we get her home or not, what about Erin? Otherwise Louise.

What was the name [Uncle] suggested?

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Melaka]

I'd ask if Erin would get confusing, but [Iroh] would too. ... What does 'Louise' mean? I will ask Tris and Simon t sound it out so I know I'm not getting it wrong later.

[Uncle] suggested... [Ming-Na], I think.

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

How is that name spelt out in English?

Don't know what it means. Just the name of a kid from back home. Called her Loo, but that's what it is in full. Maybe one of the scavengers will bring back a book of baby names, but they might not have Western names.

If you don't want to go for confusing names, I've been thinking. Do people on your world have more than one name? We sometimes have another name between our given and family names.

What do you think of Ron Iroh [Iroh] Fray?

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Melaka]

Anything but Ron.

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

[Zuko]

Sorry. Just a thought.

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Melaka]

It's alright. I just don't want my first horrific failure looking out from the face of my son. I imagine that must be what my Father felt like, and I'm trying to avoid that.

[Zuko]

[slayer_fray]

There's a long period of time before Pig returns, leaving Mel's company with more enthusiasm then he's had previously. The delay is even longer considering the brevity of the note he returns with.

The paper is torn roughly along the top with a couple of rips as the first effort didn't separate everything that she wanted to tear off.

What's left has a nasty water stain near the edge.

Stop.

[princeinexile]

Pig does not return for some time. Maybe he's on strike again.

And maybe in the dead of night, he comes back to the window, cooing miserable till he's let in.

I'm sorry.

Something was scribbled out, broad marker strokes eating up the words. What can be made out is I'm sca--.

Scarred? Scared? Who can tell? Does it matter?

It ends simply with: I love you. Both of you.

[slayer_fray]

It's not long at all before he returns, although the note has been written out slowly and carefully, by someone not used to writing and unsure what to say. The stains are there again, although fiercely swiped across the page in an attempt to obliterate them.

[Lover (masculine, affectionate)]
[Zuko]

Don't be It wasn't yo You're not

I love you. I miss you.

Will you talk to me when I see you again?

[Melaka]

[princeinexile]

[Beloved (Affectionate, Female)] [Melaka]

Of course. Do you think I would want your silence when you visit? It's lonely without your voice. Or your breathing. Do you have any idea how much I miss waking up to you? The pattern of your [breath; metaphorical and literal]?

...that wasn't what you meant, was it? Don't worry. We've plenty to talk about when we see each other next.

[Zuko]

Pig is exhausted, and goes to find somewhere to roost afterwards. He's tired and while it's nice to be flying after all that time cooped up, he's ready for a nap.