Chapter Text
Poisonous Chasm looked over at the tall stack of paper on her desk and sighed, tiredness weighing her down more and more by the second, the warmly lit lamp popping out at her out of the corners of her eye. She pushed the pile a bit to the side so she had more room to write.
A stack of letters, that was. Some even fell down onto the floor, but she just couldn't bring herself to crumple them up and throw them all away. It wasn't right; it just wasn't what she wanted to say.
She shuffled in her chair restlessly, an attempt to stave off the sleep for a little bit longer. This one was the one; she knew it in her heart. She wondered if Blue Moon knew about all the drafts she’d made of every letter she’d ever sent her. She kept them in a larger pile elsewhere.
Click. The pen uncapped once again and she set it to the top of a new crisp page. The wind howled outside of her little cabin, rushing against the windows with full force. Cold seeped through the wood logs, but they never fully came inside.
The fireplace roared behind her, flames dancing and casting vivid shadows on the walls. Though it was no incredible heating system, the little warmth it did produce—accompanied by the comfort of writing to someone special—kept the cold away more efficiently than any sun that rose over the valley.
Dear Blue Moon,
There's a dream I have about you every night. You're here in the valley; it's nighttime. You're sitting beside me, and we talk for hours.
You tell me about the universe and I tell you about Earth. I don't remember exactly what we say, but I know that it makes me really happy to hear your voice. And when I wake up in the morning, I look to my side and you're gone.
I’m just kidding. Wasn't my impression of you pretty good, though? Last night, I had a dream that I was this cool-looking whale and I was doing all these awesome moves in the ocean. Like super awesome! I was leaping up from the water. That sun was pretty bright though (please do something about that).
And then suddenly I was in this weird neighborhood in the hills and it was like I was a bird and I was flying over all the houses.
When I woke up, I was really hungry. Really, really hungry. I ate those weird pastry things that you sent me. Did you make them? Because they sucked! No offense, though. Every expert was once a beginner…
I’ve attached a picture to this letter! This is some very important business! I saw a sick bug on one of my walks, and the fool almost wandered off into the acid. Sorry about the stain, I almost dropped the photo in the acid too. It wasn't my fault, though! Duty calls.
I mean, it's literally purple. What more can I possibly do to help the people of the world? Is it really my fault if I allow such a tragedy to happen on my watch? I think his name should be… Actually, I didn't think this one through. Write back and give me a name for the poor fellow!
Also, hi! I think that I was supposed to say that at the beginning of my letter but I rewrote it too many times and my pen is almost out of ink so hi again if my great dream wasn't a good enough greeting for you.
Please make the moon brighter. It's hard to see at night; there are too many trees here! Please! Do something about it.
Send a photo of an alien also. I know that you're concealing this from me. The people need answers! What else could be happening up in that station of yours? I bet you eat a bunch of freaky alien food too like dirt and worms and stuff. Gross! I just can't prove it.
My sisters say hi as well. Do not say hi back. I dare you to.
By the way, I still have your hat since you so foolishly left it here with me the last time you visited. Come back or else it gets it! I’m not bluffing.
… Yeah, I am (please still come though). Anyway, where did you put my hat? I’m still looking for it, you know. It's the only thing that completes my look! You have to understand.
I’ve asked my sisters about it but they probably have some kind of under the table deal going on just to mess with me so I don't trust them. I’ve been using this leaf hat instead and I don't know, it's just not the same anymore! Help!
Lost Woods said that he likes it, but… You know. I think he just likes nature. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. Plants are delicious! Just that it's sort of biased when you think about it… Guy lives in the forest… and yeah.
Like if I wore the moon on my head and I asked you what you thought about it and you’d be like “What the moon?”!
And I saw your sister yesterday too. Yes, your sister. I said it! I know Axiom is your sister and I can prove it… I just need time. Good things come to those who wait. Are you the older or the younger one?
Also, Retro Coast is definitely your cousin. I can see it in the hair… It's all coming together!
Alright, I think I’m running out of things to write. I’ll tell you about this thing I’m making. It’s like this little wooden thingy, you know? I can't send you a photo because I ran out of film because of that stupid beetle (or was it a fly?)… but just know that it’s this funky looking shape.
I plan to carve a bunch of patterns into it. I think you’ll like it. I’ll give it to you when I'm finished. Or better yet… you can come here and get it yourself!
You can't possibly pass up a deal like that, yeah? It's a once in a lifetime deal… You could say it happens once in a blue moon.
Get it? I’ll laugh for you: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Hey, the joke wasn't that funny, Blue. You can stop laughing now; I can hear you from way down here.
Let's see what else I can talk about… Ah, there’s this one woman I come across often on my patrols. Have you met Ignis Peaks? She's the one that hangs out with Decaying Silo.
They seem like very good friends. Says she lives near the volcano. I trust it. Imagine living near a volcano… Do you have volcanoes up there on the moon? They must be small, like you could sweep them up with a broom.
It's getting late down here. I see the moon outside my window. Is the Earth just as bright to you? What about the stars? Do you see Mars from where you are? You should let me visit sometime.
Then I can see you in that tough space suit. So cool! Maybe it was a good thing you didn't bring your hat. How would it fit under your helmet?
Good luck with your research, and make sure not to float away. And say hi to the aliens for me. Bring back some good news for us earthlings…
Sincerely,
The One and Only Poisonous Chasm
P.S. I’ll be waiting for you.
She smiled as she printed the final words—and yawned. It was something of a miracle how Blue had been able to decipher her awful handwriting perfectly every time.
She cracked her knuckles, stretched in place, and didn't even bother to read it over again this time. She knew it was perfect.
Poisonous Chasm set down her pen and pulled an envelope from the stack opposite of the letter pile, folding the sheet as neatly as possible. She slipped it into the light blue paper and sealed it with tape.
To Blue Moon, from Poisonous Chasm—such were the words she wrote on the back before she officially set the pen down for the night. The wind had settled down a bit, and the night was rather still.
Tomorrow she’d send the letter… or she could pester one of her sisters to do it for her. Actually, she would have to take the letter back out and scan it so she could send it up to Fallen. Whoops! Forgot she wasn't still on Earth.
She set it down gently on her desk and shut the lamp off, hurrying to extinguish the fireplace. Tomorrow she would do it.
Just as quickly, she rushed to her bed, pulling the sheets over herself at lightning speed.
Still smiling, she shut her eyes, not letting any more thoughts come to her mind until the morning. This was going to be a good sleep, she could tell. Of course it would be—she had the same dream to look forward to, every night. And a nice blue hat to wear every day.