Sunday 30th August, 2009
Dear Vexen,
Hi!!! My name's Marluxia LaRue and I'm your new penpal!
It's really exciting, writing this letter and knowing it's going to go right the way across the world. Anyway, I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself:
I am 26 years old, male (some people can't tell) and a freelance writer, living in Somerset, England, in the same house as I was born in (my parents moved out, rather than the other way around as usually happens). I live alone, with two cats, Kairi and Naminé (one's ginger, the other is white) and a chicken called Sora. I like to think I'm very open minded, and I might go all the way as to say whimsical! People say I live with my head in the clouds, so I tell them the view is very nice from up here. I have a passion for horticulture, spending a lot of time in my 2 acre garden, either tending to the plants or enjoying the sunshine (or rain. Usually rain). I also love all kinds of classical music, except violins.
That's me in a nutshell!! Can't wait to hear back from you.
Yours,
Marluxia LaRue
04/09/09
Dear Marluxia,
You have, quite possibly, the strangest name I have encountered upon in any English man, no offense meant. And I thought my name was strange.
I am, as you know, Vexen Carlisle; I am a thermal dynamics researcher currently collaborating on designing clothing for Arctic expeditions and the like. By the time you receive this letter, I'll be 35: my birthday is on the 6th.
I also live alone, in a small apartment about 5 minutes walk from the sea. I've never had much of a green thumb, but I did have a peace lily for a few years before it died. I don't have any pets, partly because they're not allowed in the flats, but mostly because I don't like animals.
I don't really listen to music either.
Yours,
Vexen Carlisle
Wednesday 9th September, 2009
Dear Vexen,
Happy (belated) Birthday!!! I hope you had a great day! My birthday is in April, on the 12th, so I have a while to go yet. I had to look up what thermal dynamics was, I still don't understand any of it. I guess I'll stick to my plants and writing, huh?
It must be really lonely without anybody to keep you company. Sometimes I wish I had somebody to talk to, you know, that could talk back, but it's not like I don't have friends or anything. And I don't know how you could live without music! I always listen to music when I need inspiration for my writing... it always makes me feel so calm and relaxed.
What have I done recently...? Well, I've started redecorating the lounge because the sofa fell apart and the new one I bought doesn't match with any of the rest of the upholstery, or the carpet. It might seem a bit superficial to remake a whole room just for a sofa, but it was falling apart anyway. I've started by painting the walls a beautiful shade of blue! It's a total mess in there!
Yours,
Marluxia
15/09/09
Marluxia,
Thank you. I'll make sure to note your birthday down. I don't really have time to be lonely, though. Work keeps me busy.
I haven't redecorated since I moved here. I think that maybe I should sometimes, but it's a place to live and has everything I need, so what's the point. Although some of the wallpaper is pretty hideous - cream with brown flowers. I don't know what the people who even designed that were thinking...
I haven't done anything worth speaking of at all recently, except work, eat and sleep. I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way home from work yesterday, but honestly that's it.
Yours,
Vexen
Saturday 19th September, 2009
Vexen,
Aw, it must get so monotonous not doing anything outside of work! You should find some hobbies or something to do... like snowboarding! I went snowboarding with my brother (he's a total extreme sports fanatic) once; I was terrible, but it was fun.
I sold my car a while back because I honestly just walk everywhere. It's a few minutes to the nearest village, and if I need to get anything really big I can have it delivered to my house. Besides, petrol is so expensive these days.
I finally got a new carpet for the lounge, it's sky blue with darker blue patterns on it. They look like nonsense at first, but if you stare at them long enough you can start to see all kinds of flowers, animals and objects. I'm mad, aren't I?
I've finished my latest book (two weeks behind deadline), it's called Dreams, and about a little boy who loses his sister one day whilst walking in the woods. They find her body a few days later but she still visits her brother in his dreams, guiding him through life as he grows up. I don't know if that sounds like your kind of book, but I can send you a copy, if you like! Now I need to find some new inspiration for another book... got any ideas?
Yours,
Marluxia (but you can call me Marly, if you like)
23/09/09
Marluxia,
I think I'll stick with Marluxia, if that's OK. Marly sounds like the name of a dog, no offense...
I'd try something like that if I had the time. Maybe I ought to take up skiing again... I used to go on skiing holidays every winter with my family - ever heard of a place called Utah?
Prices of everything are rocketing at the moment. All the fault of the banks wasting everyone's money, global economy collapse etc. etc. I'm sure none of this would have happened if only competent people were allowed to run the country...
I took a page out of your book and decided to finally do something about the wallpaper in my apartment, and get a better color. I bought some white paint, although I'm waiting on a free moment to actually paint the walls.
The book sounds great. It's not the kind I'd usually read but I'd like to see what kind of style you write in. As for a new book, I have no idea... There's probably a reason why you're a writer and I'm not.
Vexen
Monday 28th September, 2009
Vexen,
Heh, no problem. But if your X, U and I keys ever break down, at least you'll have an alternative. I really ought to type up my letters, oughn't I? I'm amazed you can read my loopy handwriting.
I've enclosed a copy of the book (signed!) with this parcel for you to read. Who knows, if I become famous in a few years, you'll be able to sell it for loads of money on eBay? I also added a few pictures (I finally got the film of my camera developed). The first one is of me, the second is my mess of a sitting room, and the third is my garden in full bloom last spring. Oh, and there's a picture of Kairi scaring the living daylights out of Sora. I'm also thinking about getting some fish for the old well in my garden - what do you think?
Wow! I've never been skiing! You should totally start doing it again! Keep me posted.
Yours,
Marluxia
6/10/09
Marluxia,
Sorry, this reply took a long time. I've been very busy.
The first disaster to strike was an explosion at work, which nobody knows how it happened. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but it did mean the whole laboratory collapsed. I've been relocated to Florida for a few months until they can rebuild it, and here nobody ever does any work, so progress has been extremely slow. That also meant that I had to postpone getting rid of that goddamn wallpaper.
I've started reading your book, I honestly haven't ever read anything like this before (my previous genres mostly crime, sci-fi and... well, that's it.), but I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would! I've just reached the part where he visits his sister's grave and meets the other girl.
I can see what you mean about people not realising which gender you are now. Pink hair? What on Earth brought you to do that? Although, it does kind of suit you. Your garden is gorgeous, by the way. And the picture of Sora and Kairi made me laugh out loud. I've stuck them all up on the notice board in my kitchen.
Back to disasters, there's also been a murder a few streets from where I'm living and there are cops everywhere. It's pretty disconcerting.
Keep sending your letters to the same address, they'll be forwarded to me within a few days.
Vexen
Saturday 10th October, 2009
Vexen,
If you're still alive by the time this letter gets to you!!
Christ, you're scaring me with that whole collapsing-building/murder thing. There better not be any more disasters from now on!
I'm glad you're enjoying my book! It's good to know that I can interest people who don't even read that kind of genre (unless, of course, you're lying to make me feel better). Don't tell anybody the plot! It's not being officially published until next week.
Oh, pink hair. I thought you might ask about that. It's an extremely long story, but basically I was dared to do it a long time ago and then blackmailed into keeping it for so long that I grew to love it. I'm imagining you're brunette (don't ask why)?
Well, my garden's not looking quite so nice now that winter's on its way. The MET Office is forecasting snow on Christmas day! Which undoubtedly means it will rain, knowing England weather.
Yours,
Marluxia
14/10/09
Marluxia,
Of course I'm still alive. I'm absolutely fine, so stop worrying.
I couldn't help but finish the book (yesterday, actually), it's really gripping.
It's interesting you'd say that, since both my parents were brunette, but I'm actually a blond. One day I might dye it, though - chocolate brown, maybe. Although I have really pale skin so that might make me look a bit like a vampire.
There's hardly been anything happening since I last wrote. Work continues as normal at our new location. Hopefully we'll be back in Boston in a month or two, though.
Vexen