A letter, to Y'kim

Much as she might want to seek out Zsenzuuth's rider — Brissa doesn't. Perhaps wingsecond duties have eaten up a greater chunk of her leisure time, perhaps she's gotten distracted by the impending graduation of sixty-four weyrlings, and who Serval might be setting their hopes upon, perhaps… well. Perhaps other reasons, but: Trill and Brill both — a pair of flippant and flighty sister-green firelizards who are never, ever apart — come with a delivery for Y'kim. A little note, it might be slightly perfumey, and tied with a ribbon, green of course.

In large and careful handwriting, it reads:

Dear Y'kim, [slightly over-the-top formal, here, but it has been a hot minute since she's seen the bluerider]
Rillawyth and I had the honor of mentoring one of Suanjiath's greens and her rider this clutch. As you know, they are soon to graduate.
Jocelleth's rider, Lyrlea, has made weyrling wingsecond and has done admirably — frankly, I adore her and think she's amazing. Because she is. They have both seemed to handle the strain of leadership very well. I am looking forward to seeing what they do and who they become once they join a wing.
Lyrlea was Searched right before the Hatching. Therefore, she did not have the typical time to adjust and become familiar with the Weyr; likewise, the staff did not have time to become familiar with her and her history. She's from a very conservative holding in High Reaches' territory… [may Y'kim imagine Brissa's pause in writing this, what she leaves unwritten the implication that that might explain more of her situation] and, Y'kim, she was denied a basic education, from what I can make out.
But she'd like to learn, she desires it. She knows I'm reaching out to you and Master Iakovos to see what arrangements could be made: lessons, tutoring, what she would have been offered during candidacy, had she been able to have a normal one.
She's sharp and hungry: I can already tell what kind of pupil she'd be.
What do you recommend? Which Harpers would you know be open to working with her?
My warmest [italicized, slanted for heavy emphasis] regards to you and your Zsenzuuth,
Brissa

-------——

Re: A letter, to Y'kim

There is always plenty of work to be done, especially for a former Harper who still keeps a good hand yet in the mix. Y'kim receives the missive with gratitude and an offering of soft jerky - a piece to each, lest the other feel left out. He understands that twin-tendency; he gets it. The return letter is a little delayed, but for good reason as it turns out. Blue Kerouac is something of a spontaneous soul, so delivery is further stalled by his lack of decisiveness. Yet, it is delivered, folded and sealed with a bit of twine and shimmery blue wax pressed with 'Y' and 'Z' intertwined. Fragrance lingers, a masculine scent - ink and old paper and something evergreen and cool.

His handwriting is calligraphic elegance through and through, words transcribed by a hand that's known precious else beyond this particular skill. It reads:

Dearest Brissa, [are the flourishes on her name necessary? he seems to think so]
I hope this letter finds you, your lifemate, and your protege well. That is quite an unfortunate history for the poor dear and would that I had the power, I would abscond with all of their women to show them the pleasures of a fine and thorough education. Alas, I am but one man with one dragon and I am not the kind of Harper trained in teaching songs. [can she see the lopsided grin, boyish and rakish and shameless?]
All teasing aside, I am always happy to educate in the fields where I am skilled - the Archives yet remain my domain more than the sky, just as the seas call to my Zsenzuuth. It would be my honor to teach Lyrlea the ins and outs of the Archives and how to improve her reading and writing, even if my sums are - shall we say - questionable?
As for other Harpers, I would say Master Ylisa is exceptional. I haven't had the pleasure of working with her as much as some, but she has experience to spare. Master Iakovos is just as educationally ravenous as your companion is, but that's the path of the naturalist for you. He's a worldly sort from what I hear; cultured, where I'm a bit of a cad. [cheeky, cheeky, but not untrue]
I can recommend some books once I have a sense of Lyrlea's current level of education.
I have a few books for you, but I'm afraid you'll have to come get them; Kerouac, bless him, isn't exactly the largest of blues. But, I'm open to a compromise, if you're keen - dinner at the Kitten, no strings attached or implied.

My treat.

Warmest regards to you and your beloved Rillawyth, [again with the flourishes, but how many spirals can the tail of the 'y' hold?]
Y'kim & Zsenzuuth

And then comes the reply

She'll not hold it against him — how could she? Points for presentation in her first correspondence with the former Harper, Brissa is learning even more how to send a letter. Impressed, pleased: only Kerouc will be privy to her little curl of a smile upon receiving Y'kim's reply. But he's given treats, and cuddles if he's the type, and he might even be fussed over a bit by Trill and Brill, who — when Kerouc finally makes his escape — she must forbid from following him. Because they have to take her letter, first.

And the letter… she might end up rambling a little more than she meant; veering slightly off-topic here and there for Y'kim is an easy man for her to talk write to.

It takes the same form as her last one: floral perfume wafts from it; neat and tidy handwriting — nothing in the quality of Y'kim's, but can he tell how much she must have labored over it, with its neatness and carefully-formed letters? Quite a labor.

Dear[est—it's been erased] Y'kim,

Thank you, we are all well. I hope you and yours are much the same. Were more men like you…

Thankfully, at least Lyrlea managed to make it out. She's an asset to the Weyr, and I want her to have every opportunity available to her. Thank you for being willing to help, I knew you would! She may try to strike a deal or bargain with you in exchange for lessons, but I will let you broker that with her.

I will also send a note to dear Iakovos and try to introduce myself to Master Ylisa. I also heard Southern's recently acquired a new archivist, but haven't met her yet.

There are many books I've devoured from the archives, and if you say you have more, I will gladly come fetch them. At the Kitten, over dinner. I would love that, Y'kim.

Send along the date, and I will be there.
Fondest [trying out a new phrase to see how it fits—she still likes warmest better] regards,
Brissa [This time, not so fancy, more 'her' with even a little heart as the dot over the 'i' — it's not haste that drops the formality, it's excitement.]

Another reply

Kerouac isn't precisely cuddly, but he will accept treats and pets and even the attentions of seemingly twinned greens. He is not, ultimately, an impolite or antisocial thing; he's just questionably socialized amongst humans. His departure is every bit as inevitable as his return - languid, in its way, with him neither hastening to depart nor hurrying to return.

And when he does return, it's with two items, one within the other; a letter folded 'round a stiff card. Both are of higher quality paper, perhaps personally pressed - not necessarily for the occasion, but it might well seem so. Twine and glittery blue wax seal the card within the letter; the paper bears his cologne well and promises to smell like him for some time yet.

The letter, eloquently scripted as ever, reads:

Dearest Brissa, [utterly shameless, the letters seem to have even more weight to them]
If there were more men like me, the soil would be rich and black with broken hearts and fertile ground for better men to sow their seeds.
But I digress.
Tell Lyrlea not to worry about repayment; I'll tell her the same, even if she insists. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. I will ever continue to gnash my teeth over the idea that some places still strive to keep others down; it's maddening and a kind of madness and I can't think on it too much or Zsenzuuth will catch on.

Digressions abound! I hope you can forgive an unprofessional slip or three.
With that said, I am grateful to you for your belief in my ability to help educate your protege. I will not disappoint you. Nor will Master Ylisa or Iakovos, I suspect. She will be as well-educated as can be done in short order. While I cannot directly speak of them, I will say that it would be a terrible day if we Harpers did not strive to satisfy that ferocious itch for knowledge that she has.
And speaking of itches- I do hope the books I set aside for you will scratch a few.
Until then, may your skies be clear and your eyes stay as bright, Brissa.

Y'kim [no Zsenzuuth here, no need to invite that trouble]

And the card? A curious affair, washed in a hue of green to approximate the color of her lifemate. One side carries the time and date of a proposed dinner; the other, the words: "Good for one free drink at the Kitten"

What Brissa may reply to Y'kim does little to add anything valuable to this string of correspondence (though, Brissa might spell it "correspondance" with an emphasis on dance). Meanwhile, however, another letter is begun, and dispatched this time to Harper Master Iakovos, Trill and Brill once again work in-tandem to locate the intrepid man. They will beseech him for affection in-double, hang around longer than they're probably welcomed, and if he so needs to utilize their limbs for note-transport back to Brissa, they will surely overstay stay until he's ready.

This letter is also not without its own particular fuss and care: slight hint of floral perfume, of a good quality vellum, tied with another satiny green ribbon, excessive and over-the-top even in its loops.

Unfurled, it will read in careful, careful lettering:

My dear Iakovos,
I hope this note finds you well! I did not anticipate my appointment to Serval's wingsecond-second position, and as I adjust to the new (wonderful) workload, I am afraid I have been negligent in reaching out to you to see if you still need my services. Of course, if it is so, please know I would gladly make all manner of arrangements to take you wherever pleases you, however you need me.
However, I am not writing about only that, this evening.
[And what follows is a very, very similar explanation of Lyrlea's background, much the same of what she has already written to Y'kim, though finishes it with:]
I thought of you right away as one who might also like to contribute to her education. Likewise, bluerider and Harper Y'kim also recommended you, along with Master Ylisa. If possible, I would love to connect you with Lyrlea, so you both might work out an arrangement of education if she is amendable, which I think she shall be.
I do truly hope I will be able to see you soon.
Best and most sincerest of wishes,
Brissa and Rillawyth

Re: To Master Iakovos

Will her 'lizards share the sights that await when they do find the man? One hopes they shall, for the man's located somewhere but the only certainty is that it's by a river with ging trees in full bloom behind him. Needlethorn harvesting might not necessarily be a necessity of his work, but it's what he's in the midst of when the green duet manifest. It's the magic hour, with lighting just perfect to cast a gilt-edged gleam to the world; everything is fresh, bright, and exquisite. Picture-perfect.

The greens will be treated to a sumptuous feast of Pernese pemmican and a fresh oiling with the lingering scent of jungle and water and a smidge of smoke from a small fire that seems to suggest he's camping.

They will smell like adventure.

Iakovos's reply is on thick paper, hand-pressed - for the man's not always near civilization, so the skill to make his own supplies is essential. The ink is dark and faintly tinged in a reddish-purple in the right light. Clever folding and some ging leaf adhesive keeps it closed, trapping a trace of his scent - salt sweat and jungle green, of wild flowers and fresh fruits and savory dried meats - within.

Yet, despite being in the middle of nowhere, his writing is impeccable; the script is fluid, yet wondrously legible, the writing of a man who writes for others to read and understand. He writes:

Brissa, my dear!
It finds me quite well, if a bit prickly. [included is a sketch of a needlethorn; jokes abound with this one] That will pass. Congratulations to you and yours for a much-deserved promotion and a bright future - I am certain you both will do very well, even if I and certain other crafters will lament that you won't have the time to indulge us in our assorted whims.
I will be sure to reach out soon, though - we still have a date in the far south as I recall and the lights are purportedly as spectacular as a certain klah place at Southern Barrier Hold. But, more importantly, we'll see what blooms and grows in the snow, whether flora, fauna, or something else. [the letters are wiggly, as if to give them a spooky affect and hinting at yet more adventure]
As for your Lyrlea, I will be reaching out to some others in the region to investigate why, in this day and age, our education in that region is slipping. Master Ylisa will be a fantastic resource for her, from what I know of her. I, of course, will be more than happy to do my due diligence and offer tutoring services when I can.
Maybe- yes, of course! I think all three of us should go to The Klah Bark and explore the snow and ice together. If she's as adventurous as you are, then all the better - it opens the world wide open as a place of learning. When I return to the Weyr in a few sevendays, I'll look for her - and you, too, of course.

And maybe a firelizard to spare your girls from being spoiled.

Clear skies, my dear, and I hope I see you again soon.

Iakovos

One more note…

Only a short & sweet reply is sent to Master Iakovos, once more by the "twins" who honestly might be loath to leave him after all the special ministrations they were given by the indulgent harper.

Dear Iakovos,
Trill and Brill have been outrageously spoiled by you, and now I fear they will never obediently deliver letters to anyone else, as your warm reception of their visit will forever go unmatched!
And do not lament! I do not plan for my adventures with you nor your colleagues to come to an end with my new knot. One of Serval's strengths is assistance to Southern's Crafters, and I fully intend to continue to build up that foundation and fortify those connections.
I would, of course, never turn down a trip to Southern Barrier.
Looking forward to these plans coming to fruition,
Brissa