[LJ Idol 20: Week 1] Lana writes letters

[scribblesinblue]

25.August

My dearest Leon, my lion, my love,

How strange it feels now to know that by the time you hold this letter, you will have returned once more to the Institute that is no longer my home, to celebrate your penultimate Bell Day. I wish I could be there with you, and yet time does not stop regardless of what you or I might wish for. Grant me this wish, that you will tell me about Bell Day as best you can, about the new young one they choose to strike the bell, and about who is chosen to lift that one up. Sadly, I was never suited for lifting at my height!

Speaking of little ones, I should tell you that my parents have allowed me to join in their work. I will have the early classes, ballet and gymnastics and skating. I will be encouraging them to try all three so that those more experienced at evaluating talent can judge which field their parents should be persuaded to let them pursue, or perhaps whether the young daughters and sons would best find another path entirely. I will of course keep my own skills sharp, and there are few things better for drilling the basics than preparing to teach little children who must learn proper technique from the start.

That reminds me, is Coach K still lecturing everyone about stretches and how they are to make you more flexible, not taller? I might have to use that line with the kids I’m teaching. It’s so strange to think of myself as a coach with my own classes. I might like to tour sometime, as Luka does, but I would rather wait until I can do that with you.

Two years, dearest. Two years you must endure without me, as I endured my first two years without you. Certainly, it was easier for me, for I was not yet aware of what I was missing! Two years I will miss you, and I am uncertain whether to hope you will miss me just as much or whether I should hope to spare you the pain of it. Two years I will work for us, as you will study for us, and I will weave the silken threads of the path that may reunite us once more.

I remain, as always, yours,

Lana

-- 

26.August

My dear Luka,

As they say, “I hope this letter finds you well.” But first things first. I hope this letter finds you! I know that these days, letters often become lost somewhere between their writer and the company member they are meant to reach. 

How strange it is to know that now I am your pen-pal, and that you are traveling with a group that includes the person I am used to thinking of as your pen-pal. For all that is said of absence making the heart grow fonder, there must still be a relief of being at last reunited? No need to answer that unless you wish to, of course. It is only on my mind as I am missing my darling Leon very much. 

And I am missing you, of course, my might as well be twin brother. I know you would be the first to admit and to understand that missing an almost-kin and missing a sweetheart are not at all the same! I miss you for that, for your insight and understanding into people of all sorts. It is a great strength, one that I admire.

I know you have asked before if I would like to join the company. And again, my answer is “not yet”. I have responsibilities, to my parents and our family’s work, to the youngsters they are entrusting to my care and coaching. And now also to Leon. Including the responsibility of appearance of propriety. While of course there would be no such concern, and Leon knows it well, I would not have him the subject of crude speculation on my account. 

I do miss you, though. I miss our chats. When next you come my way, I look forward to drinking many cups of tea and getting all of the news. May that day be soon!

Affectionately,

Lana

Comments

[humanbeansradio]

There’s such a strong sense here that these characters have whole lives and histories beyond what we’re seeing on the page. I found myself really curious about the Institute and Bell Day in particular. Thanks for sharing!

[scribblesinblue]

Bell Day is what they call the first day of school, I'll say that much, and it's a big deal in this society. :)

[simplyn2deep]

I really enjoyed getting to know Lana through these letters. There’s so much worldbuilding tucked into things she treats as completely ordinary—Bell Day, the Institute, the company, the way young children’s talents are evaluated, and even her concern about maintaining the appearance of propriety. It made me curious about this world without stopping the letters to explain everything to me.

I also loved how differently her relationships with Leon and Luka come through. With Leon, there’s this aching awareness of the two years separating them and Lana already imagining the life they might build afterward. With Luka, there’s a comfortable, almost-sibling affection, “my might as well be twin brother” says SO much about their relationship. And I laughed at her version of “I hope this letter finds you well,” which became “first things first, I hope this letter finds you!” 😂 Given that apparently letters have a habit of disappearing on their way to traveling company members, that seems like a perfectly reasonable concern. I’m definitely curious to learn more about the Institute and Company now!

[scribblesinblue]

Letters occasionally disappear, in general. Or fall into the wrong hands. She wants to ask him about a lot of things that it would be best not to talk about in a letter, at least not directly!

[pixiebelle]

You can tell there’s so much history here, and I found myself wanting to know more about everyone and the world.

[scribblesinblue]

Thanks - that's quite high praise coming from you.

I'm planning for these three to make more appearances, though of course that's somewhat depending on prompts.

[pixiebelle]

Why thank you! Do I know you under another name by chance?

I feel the same way with my characters… I hope I can explore them more here, but it depends on the prompts.

[scribblesinblue]

You do! A lot has changed especially in the last ten years and I'm trying not to directly link to the old account as a courtesy to someone else in my family. Messaged you. :)

[pixiebelle]

Now I’m curious :) I didn’t get a message, not sure if that’s just Dreamwidth or whatever.

[gardeningatnight]

Missing people who fill different roles in our lives is not the same -- but it's often not a hierarchy, either. Just different. But I suspect that Luka knows that.

[scribblesinblue]

Oh, he very much does, as does Lana. Leon maybe a little less so, but he is learning.

There are just...things that one does not say in letters, lest the letters be intercepted.

[halfshellvenus]

I'm also wondering what Bell Day is!

The idea of an institute that teaches ballet, gymnastics, and ice skating as a "chunk" actually makes sense. :)

[scribblesinblue]

It does seem like those activities would go well together, doesn't it? :)

[bsgsix]

Okay, I'm intrigued. Lana catches me; I want to know more. The letters only say so much, and I am certain that's your point (which is fantastic world-building)! What is Bell Day? I have a guess, but it's probably WAY off.

Also, what a beautiful line: "Two years I will work for us, as you will study for us, and I will weave the silken threads of the path that may reunite us once more." I REALLY love how elegant and thoughtful that wording is!

Excellent work. Truly. <3

[scribblesinblue]

Bell Day is their name for the first day of school.

Lana did not intend to have her heart stolen by a younger student but that...is a story in itself.

Glad you enjoyed this so far!

[bsgsix]

Ahh, okay - I don't know if I missed something while reading or just truly didn't know, but that makes a lot of sense!

I am REALLY interested to learn more about this story - it's very intriguing! <3

[scribblesinblue]

I got inspired by the extra prompt so there is more here!

[adoptedwriter]

I am curious to know what is next in store.

[scribblesinblue]

That depends on the prompts we get, probably. :) I do have a lot of ideas for them!

[penpusher]

I presume this is part of a larger piece, maybe a novella, short story or an epistolary novel? It captures a lot with just a little, and that always makes for intriguing speculation!

[scribblesinblue]

These are three characters out of a group I have a lot of notes about that I've been trying to make into something more. They're a lot of fun!

[drippedonpaper]

I look forward to reading more of their story (or letters, however we can follow along :)

[ofearthandstars]

This is an interesting snippet from a much deeper world. I can see it as the introductory chapter to a larger series or novel(la), as a subtle means of introducing relationships while keeping a sense of mystery about (since letter writers by their nature seem to include the details that are important and/or flattering and leave out those that are not so much).

[scribblesinblue]

Also because she fears that especially what she writes to Luka may be intercepted, there are certain things she's trying to signal without saying outright. He'll understand, of course, but the details will have to wait for them to be in the same place at the same time again.

[rayaso]

I also wondered what Bell Day is. Once I learned, I re-read your entry. I was so creative to use letters for your story! Having had two children experience first days (long ago), I would love to read more.

[scribblesinblue]

Kids grow up fast! My son just had his first day of school...as a classroom teacher.

[poppetawoppet]

Interesting concept, can’t wait to read more

[scribblesinblue]

I wrote more for the extra prompt. :)

[inchoatewords]

I love a good epistolary story, and now I'm intrigued by this world and want to know more!

[scribblesinblue]

Letters are fun, both for what they say and for what they leave out.

(I wrote the extra prompt within this 'verse, too.)

[kandigurl]

Two years is such a long time to
be apart from someone you love!

[muchtooarrogant]

This is such an interesting world you've given us access to through Lana's letters. This type of story is always so much fun because you can slowly slip in details that broaden the world until, almost without realizing it, the reader has a complete picture. I'll be interested to see whether you continue this story moving forward.

Dan

[lapis_lazuli615]

I hope Gary's prompts lead you back to give us more history - and future - of these characters! I feel like you've got a lot in your head that these two letters are just the beginning of.